Published
Thu, Mar 16, 2023, 09:00
- Left Bank cofounder Gacha Bakradze said the decision is "a clear indication that people's voices and actions can make a difference."
Georgia's parliament has voted to drop a controversial bill following mass protests.
Lawmakers voted 35-1 against the bill last Friday, March 10th, at a session that lasted just four minutes and featured no discussion. The vote came after thousands of people took to the streets of the capital Tbilisi last week to protest against the so-called "foreign agents" law, which critics said would have restricted press freedom and civil liberties.
The protests were strongly backed by the city's clubbing community, and venues such as Bassiani, KHIDI and Left Bank released statements condemning the proposed bill. Speaking to Resident Advisor, Left Bank cofounder Gacha Bakradze praised the protestors, describing the U-turn as "a testament to the power of collective action" and "a clear indication that people's voices and actions can make a difference."
He continued: "I'm particularly heartened by the fact that this victory isn't attributed to the opposition but to the new generation of activists who came together to defend their democratic rights. This shows that when people from diverse socio-economic groups, political beliefs and backgrounds come together for a common cause, meaningful change can be achieved."