Around a thousand protestors gathered outside the Georgian parliament on Monday opposing a Russian-inspired "foreign influence" bill.
The proposed law is backed by wealthy Bidzina Ivanichvili’s ruling Georgian Dream party. Protestors perceive the law as an obstacle to Georgia’s European Union membership aspirations – particularly after the EU strongly criticised the law.
If passed, any NGO or media outlet receiving over 20% of its funding from abroad will need to register as an "organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power."
Tens of thousands protested in front of parliament in Tbilisi earlier, before gradually dispersing. By Monday morning, the crowd had reduced to about a thousand.
Before dawn, police arrested around ten protestors. Hundreds of riot police were deployed, and a section of Roustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi’s main street, was cordoned off around parliament on Monday.
The bill, denounced by protestors, was approved by the parliamentary legal affairs committee on Monday and is set for a final reading on Tuesday. The government claims the law aims to enhance “transparency” regarding organisation funding.
Primarily young Georgians led the protests, which have been ongoing throughout downtown Tbilisi for several weeks. Demonstrators, waving Georgian and EU flags, see Russian influence behind the bill.
In December 2023, Georgia received candidate status from the EU, but Tbilisi needs to reform its judicial and electoral systems, bolster press freedom, and limit oligarchic power before official membership discussions can begin.
On Monday, Dutch MEP Thjis Reuten (S&D), sent a joint letter to EU High Representative for Foreign Policy Josep Borrel to prepare "targeted sanctions against those in Georgia who are steering the country away from its European future."
