Georgia's Parliament advanced a bill that critics fear could restrict media freedom and jeopardize the country's EU membership bid. The proposed law, which has sparked mass protests in the capital, Tbilisi, would require media and noncommercial organizations to register as 'pursuing the interests of a foreign power' if they receive over 20% of funding from abroad.
The ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced the bill, which had been withdrawn last year following public outcry. Despite ongoing demonstrations denouncing the legislation as reminiscent of Russian laws targeting independent media, 83 out of 150 lawmakers approved the bill in its second reading.
Relations between Georgia and Russia have been strained since a brief war in 2008, with the issue of separatist regions remaining contentious. The recent protests in Tbilisi turned violent, leading to dozens of arrests and clashes between police and demonstrators.
Opposition lawmakers have accused the ruling party of aligning with Russian influence and undermining Georgia's European aspirations. President Salome Zourabichvili has criticized the bill and pledged to veto it, though the governing party could override her veto.
The EU has condemned Georgia's use of force against protesters and expressed concerns about the impact of the proposed law on media freedom. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell called on Georgian authorities to respect the right to peaceful assembly and emphasized the importance of media freedom for the country's EU accession process.
Despite the government's determination to push the bill through, protesters remain defiant, with many expressing their rejection of what they perceive as a move towards authoritarianism and away from European values.
