Georgia’s approval of controversial ‘foreign agent’ law leads to further protests

Georgia’s parliament has passed a controversial “foreign agent” law, sparking mass protests in the streets of Tbilisi. The bill, which received 84 votes against 30, requires NGOs and independent media receiving more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations “bearing the interests of a foreign power.”

Critics of the bill, dubbed the “Russia law,” fear it could be used to suppress civil liberties and threaten democracy in the country. Protesters attempted to storm the parliament building, leading to clashes with police and arrests. Inside the parliament, tensions ran high as pro-government and opposition MPs engaged in physical and verbal altercations.

President Salome Zourabichvili has vowed to veto the law, but the ruling party, Georgian Dream, has enough support in parliament to override her decision. The European Union has expressed concerns that the law could harm Georgia’s bid to join the bloc, while the White House has threatened to reassess its ties with the country.

Protesters, including 27-year-old demonstrators, see the upcoming parliamentary election as an opportunity to vote out the ruling party and bring about change. The bill has ignited a fierce debate about the future of democracy in Georgia, with many fearing the implications of the new law on the country’s sovereignty and freedom.