Medvedev: A Hollywood Veteran's Familiar Hand is Behind All These Protests

The protests in Georgia regarding the foreign agents legislation clearly showcase American influence, as the demonstrations are evidently led by a 'Hollywood familiar hand.' This statement was made today by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council.

“Discussions on the foreign agents law in Tbilisi have escalated into street clashes and brawls in the Georgian parliament. Anyone who calls such actions spontaneous protests should be the first to throw a stone at their own mirror. Behind all these rallies, a Hollywood veteran's familiar hand is evident,” he wrote on his Telegram channel.

Medvedev reminded that such legislative norms are not nonsense and have long been in effect in the United States, Israel, and Australia, as well as being adopted in EU countries, yet these laws do not face criticism from the West.

“Moreover, the European Union is now planning to adopt its own version of the foreign agents law. Stricter than even in the USA, where it has been in effect since 1938 and seriously limits the activities of a wide range of legal and physical persons representing the interests of foreign entities and figures. Fines, imprisonment, deportations, restrictions on the rights of 'undesirable' individuals and organizations; the entire arsenal is ready and can be applied instantly,” Medvedev explained.

The Deputy Chairman of the Security Council noted that the “American law” is considered the “best,” even if it provides for the death penalty for foreign agents. In such a case, Washington will also find justification for such repression, as “they punish with death their enemies of America.”

For the West, the issue in the Georgian bill, as well as in similar norms in Kyrgyzstan, was that “this, you see, is a 'Russian idea,' not a Western initiative,” and in response to this offer, “there were payments. Maidan, fights, pressures” began and blackmail occurred,” said the politician.

The ruling party of Georgia announced on April 3 its intention to reintroduce the foreign agents bill for parliamentary discussion, a bill that had been withdrawn from parliament in March 2023 due to mass protests. Later, on April 15, during the discussion of the law, Georgian deputies got into a brawl.

On the same day, Tbilisi police arrested 14 participants of the protests against the foreign agents law near the Tbilisi parliament. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the violators resisted law enforcement officers and insulted them. Additionally, the ministry called on protesters to comply with the police and warned that otherwise, force would be used. However, the protests continued the following day as well.

After special forces from Georgia's Ministry of Internal Affairs appeared near the building, the police arrested another 11 individuals.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili expressed support for the protesters, accusing the police of detaining those protecting the country's European future.

In March 2023, the country’s parliament adopted the 'Transparency of Foreign Influence' bill in the first reading by a large majority. The document proposed the establishment of a registry for non-governmental organizations and media receiving foreign funding. The Georgian opposition considered the initiative a “move away from the European path.”