Publié
Tue, May 14, 2024, 12:30
- The ruling Georgian Dream party has "resorted to intimidation and terror to maintain power," according to Bassiani.
The Georgian club community has joined the mass protests against the controversial "foreign agents" bill, which was passed today, May 14th.
Hundreds of thousands of protestors have taken to the streets against the bill, which requires media and commercial organisations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from outside the country to register as "agents of foreign influence."
Leading Tbilisi club Bassiani took to Instagram last Sunday, May 11th, to confirm that its founders and employees would be joining the protest that took place later that day. The post accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of "forfeiting its legitimacy entirely," and criticised the violent crackdown on protesters.
"In the past few days, Bassiani team members and clubgoers, individuals who have been dedicated pillars and allies of the club for years, have been unjustly detained, imprisoned, and subjected to oppressive tactics," the post continued. "Our foremost demand is the immediate liberation of every citizen who stands for the welfare of our society and is unlawfully incarcerated."
Georgian DJ and producer Gio Shengelia also shared details of being attacked by government agents over the weekend, along with a group of fellow activists. "Be careful," he warned. "If you plan to go out, especially late at night, try not to be alone."
Speaking to Resident Advisor, Left Bank cofounder Gacha Bakradze said it had been a "tough month" and was "disheartening to see the situation that has unfolded. Since yesterday morning, over 20 arrests have been made, some of whom are my friends."
Bakradze's comments follow a statement Left Bank published earlier this month addressing the situation. "Democracy in Georgia grapples with imminent danger," the post read. "For years, the ruling power has waged a covert war against Western values. However, the current ultra-right, adopting a neofascist ethos within Georgian Dream, openly reveals their assault on the nation's future."
Neighbouring club TES posted a similar statement, encouraging followers to "head to the streets," while KHIDI criticised Georgian Dream's willingness to "jeopardise the country's European future and steer Georgia's political trajectory towards Russia."
Georgian politicians voted to adopt the bill earlier today. Footage shared on social media suggests that a fight broke out in parliament between members of Georgian Dream and the opposition parties who opposed the bill. Meanwhile thousands of protesters are gathered outside the parliament building.
It's not the first time the club scene has taken a stand against Georgian Dream's infringement on civil liberties. Last month, clubs and promoters spoke out against a new law that restricts the rights of the country's LGBTQIA+ community. Eau De Cologne, one of Tbilisi's queer club nights, described the legislation as "a clear example of institutional homophobia," in a statement sent to RA. The government also attempted to pass the 'foreign agents' bill last year, but u-turned after mass protests.
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