photo © Hermine Virabyan
Since its establishment, the CSN Lab has remained steadfast in its commitment to fostering regional cultural dialogue. Over the years, we have collaborated with numerous Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), initiatives, communities, researchers, artists, and cultural practitioners from Georgia.
Our team strongly believes that cooperation and partnership between Georgian and Armenian civil societies are essential for advancing democracy and cultivating a peaceful, open, and transparent environment in our countries and the broader South Caucasus region.
Today, we stand in solidarity with our Georgian partner organizations, colleagues, and the Georgian society as they protest against the recent passage of the "Foreign Agent Bill" (also known as the "Russian Law”) in its first reading by the parliament of Georgia. We fully support their peaceful demonstrations in Tbilisi as they express their concern and opposition to this alarming decision.
Drawing from the unfortunate experience of the Russian Federation's implementation of similar legislation years ago and its subsequent disastrous consequences, as an organization dedicated to strengthening and upholding fundamental human rights through culture in the region, we stand alongside our Georgian partners in their efforts to safeguard democracy. We apprehend that this legislation poses a serious threat to the protection of freedom of speech and democracy in our neighboring country and the South Caucasus region in general.
Together, we will continue our unwavering commitment to fostering a society where freedom of expression thrives and democratic principles prevail.
CSN Lab Team
Yerevan 18.04.2024