Georgia's parliament recently approved a contentious 'foreign agents' bill, sparking widespread domestic opposition and drawing warnings from the European Union regarding its potential impact on the country's aspirations to join the bloc.
The newly passed law mandates that organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from foreign sources must register as 'agents of foreign influence' or face significant fines. Critics argue that the legislation closely resembles laws in Russia, which the Kremlin has utilized to suppress dissent and civil society.
Concerns among many Georgians have led to nightly protests in Tbilisi, the capital, disrupting normal activities for approximately a month. Despite the backlash, the ruling party, Georgian Dream, defends the bill as a measure to enhance transparency and safeguard national sovereignty.
The bill now awaits submission to President Salome Zourabichvili, who has expressed intentions to veto it. While Zourabichvili has a two-week window to veto the bill, parliament retains the authority to override her decision with a simple majority.
