Astonishing pictures from #Tbilisi#Georgia - a rally of likely 150K+ people against the planned 'foreign agents law' (very much along the lines of what the Kremlin introduced in Russia)
V t.me/nlevshitstelegram
@wjmaggos
FARA does not prohibit lobbying for foreign interests, nor does it ban or restrict any specific activities.[3] Its explicit purpose is to promote transparency with respect to foreign influence over American public opinion, policy, and laws; to that end, the DOJ is required to make such information publicly available.[4] FARA was enacted in 1938 primarily to counter Nazi propaganda,[5][6] with an initial focus on criminal @fulelo@briankrebs@anneapplebaum
prosecution of subversive activities; since 1966, enforcement has shifted mostly to civil penalties and voluntary compliance.[7] @fulelo@briankrebs@anneapplebaum@wjmaggos
my understanding is the Georgia law does the same. It does not prohibit any activity and the only enforcement is econ penalties. We spent years concerned that Trump had any relationship with Russians, while there's proof the US was involved in Ukraine choosing their new govt in 2014. imo it is completely justified for Georgians to be concerned re foreign influence (from anywhere) after what happened there. it seems to be happening again.
@wjmaggos
Georgia is a former Soviet Republic. They know this will lead to people disappearing in prisons like it did in Russia. Any US legislation pales in comparison, as there is still a pluralist (yet polarized) public in the US that can speak its mind. The mere fact that the US law was around for over 80 years and did very little, whereas foreign agent laws in Russia were clearly directed against anyone who criticized the government should speak volumes. @fulelo@briankrebs@anneapplebaum
who is they? my view is that the law is not as unpopular as we are being told here. that most Georgians don't think it will lead to massive oppression. that what you're saying is a propaganda narrative. that most people there want the law enacted for exactly the reason you are articulating, they want to know who is messing with their country, and think it's just as likely to be "the west" as Russians.
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