Thousands of Georgians protest in Tbilisi against ‘foreign influence’ law
Tens of thousands of people demonstrated in Georgia against a draft law on “foreign influence” on Sunday night. Around 1,000 people continued the rally outside the country’s parliament in Tbilisi on Monday morning, AFP reports.
If adopted, the law will require any NGO or media organisation receiving more than 20 per cent of its funding from abroad to register as an “organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power”.
Critics say the text is inspired by Russian legislation that the Kremlin has used for years to quell dissident voices. The government says it is intended to force organisations to be more transparent about their funding.
The text was approved on Monday by a parliamentary committee for legal affairs and is due to be examined by MPs in its third and final reading on Tuesday. An initiative of the ruling Georgian Dream party, it is seen by opponents as an obstacle on Georgia’s path to membership of the European Union, which has roundly criticised it.
Demonstrators have held several rallies in Tbilisi in recent weeks, waving Georgian and EU flags. Tens of thousands protested on Sunday night, with around 1,000 people continuing their protest on Monday morning. Hundreds of riot police were deployed and part of the capital’s main thoroughfare was closed off. A group of about 10 people were arrested at dawn.
“I keep warning all members of radical opposition groups that they will be prosecuted for their acts of violence,” prime minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Sunday.
In December 2023, the EU granted Georgia official candidate status but said the country would have to carry out reforms to its judicial and electoral systems, increase press freedom and limit the power of oligarchs before accession negotiations could be officially launched.
Demonstrators protest against the "foreign influence" bill near the parliament in Tbilisi, 13 May 2024 © PHOTO GIORGI ARJEVANIDZE / AFP
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