#Georgia: The “foreign agent” law is officially dead. In the second reading, 35 of the 58 deputies present voted against it. The massive protests against the law, together with external criticism of the West, produced the "sandwich effect" which has efficiently led to the⤵️
following results: 1) This law itself is nullified and nothing similar will be proposed in the near future by part of the ruler party; 2) This positive precedent represents a “lesson learned” for both the public and the ruling party (the former can wield power if it sticks⤵️
together and the latter is not immune from accountability); 3) The public can be mobilized to pressure the govt to adequately implement the EU requirements for the EU candidacy. These protests demonstrated that the govt can be forced to compromise with the public interest;⤵️
4) The EU vector of the country is impermeable and people prefer democracy to the authoritarian practices that countries like Russia are spreading in the region. This is a victory for democracy in Georgia and it is due to⤵️
the persistence, capacity of mobilization and representativeness of the protesters (students, NGOs, intellectuals, even representatives of state institutions, etc.); 5) Russians residing in Georgia have also learned a lesson of democracy through the effective protests in Georgia.
Some photos with protesters celebrating their victory over the "foreign agents" law and the government (although the latter will not admit it). Photos via @KShoshiashvili @RTavisupleba 
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