Thousands of Georgians took to the streets of Tbilisi on Sunday to protest against a controversial bill on “foreign agents” that has been criticized as authoritarian and Russian-inspired by the country’s opposition and Western countries.
The bill, set for its second reading in parliament on Tuesday, would require organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents” or face fines. Protesters fear that many non-governmental organizations (NGOs) could be forced to shut down under this law, which they liken to a repressive Russian legislation.
Nika Shurgaia, a protester, expressed concern that the bill could stigmatize and potentially close down NGOs that have been instrumental in helping Georgia. The opposition has organized nightly protests outside parliament for over a week, with student demonstrators blocking the central Rustaveli Avenue and facing off against riot police.
The European Union and Western countries have warned that the bill could jeopardize Georgia’s integration with the EU, a process that was granted candidate status to Georgia in December. The bill must pass three readings in parliament and overcome a potential veto by the president, who opposes it.
As tensions escalate in Tbilisi, both supporters and opponents of the bill are gearing up for further protests. While opponents have called for mass demonstrations against the bill’s second reading on Tuesday, the government has organized a demonstration in support of the legislation for Monday. The outcome of these protests could have far-reaching implications for Georgia’s democratic future.