Large protests erupt in Georgia against foreign funding law
Tens of thousands of Georgians rallied on Saturday, waving Georgian and European Union flags in protest against a new law requiring organisations to disclose their foreign funding, as reported by BBC.
They denounce the legislation as a "Russian law" because its wording mirrors a Russian law that compels foreign-funded organisations to register as "foreign agents."
The ruling party, which failed to pass the bill last year due to widespread protests, has now rammed it through two readings this year despite ongoing protests for about a month and calls from Western partners. The legislation is expected for a final vote next week.
Georgia's "Foreign Influence" Law Sparks Controversy
The law, dubbed the "foreign influence" law, compels any NGO or media outlet receiving more than 20% of its funding from abroad to register as an "organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power." The Georgian government defends the measure as a way to ensure "transparency" in organisational funding.
However, the ruling party's "Georgian Dream" initiative has angered some Georgians, who see it as undermining the country's European aspirations. This South Caucasus nation aspires to join the European Union.
Western countries also criticise the draft law, which is inspired by a long-standing Kremlin tool to silence dissent in Russia. Nordic and Baltic countries issued a joint warning, stating that Georgian authorities are on a worrying path that jeopardises Georgia's European future.
The United States echoed the warnings on Friday, expressing deep concern over Georgia's democratic backsliding. Washington says Georgia must choose between a "Kremlin-style" foreign agents law and its Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Translation by Iurie Tataru
