Georgia’s parliament votes to curb protest camps -media

Oct 6 (Reuters) – Georgia’s parliament voted to effectively ban the use of tent camps during public protests, news outlet Interpress said, after the state accused opposition groups of planning to topple the government with the help of the West.

Last month, the state security service accused a former deputy interior minister of plotting from Ukraine to overthrow the Tbilisi government, with efforts such as protests.

“The draft law prepared by the initiative of the majority of Georgian Dream (party) was adopted by 74 votes against 22,” Interpress said, referring to Thursday’s parliament session.

The first “colour revolution” 20 years ago brought to power a strongly pro-Western government in Georgia, followed by similar events in other former Soviet countries that often involved protesters setting up tent camps in key public areas.

The current Georgian government, while seeking to join the European Union, has fostered close ties with Russia and tried to mimic some of Moscow’s moves such as drafting a law on “foreign agents”, which it dropped after protests.

Last month the security service said a fresh wave of public discontent could be triggered if the EU decided at a mid-December summit not to grant candidate status, as Brussels has said Georgia was sliding back on matters such as political polarisation and state institutions.

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