Georgia’s Parliament Passes Controversial “Foreign Agents” Bill Despite Protests
Georgia’s parliament has passed a controversial bill on “foreign agents” in a move that has sparked mass protests and drawn warnings from Brussels about the country’s European Union aspirations.
The bill, which requires organizations receiving at least 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents, was approved in a heated session on Tuesday. Scuffles broke out between lawmakers before the bill was passed with a vote of 84 to 30.
The legislation now awaits approval from President Salome Zourabichvili, who has indicated she will veto it. However, the governing party and its allies in parliament could override her decision.
The bill has been met with strong opposition, with critics arguing that it threatens democratic freedoms and Georgia’s EU membership ambitions. The government, on the other hand, claims the bill is necessary to promote transparency and protect the country’s sovereignty.
Protests against the bill have been ongoing for weeks, with demonstrators gathering outside the parliament building in Tbilisi to voice their opposition. The protests have drawn thousands of people, with some of the largest demonstrations seen in Georgia since its independence from Moscow in 1991.
The European Union has expressed concerns about the bill, with European Council President Charles Michel warning that it could hinder Georgia’s integration with the bloc. Several Western countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and France, have also called on Georgia to withdraw the legislation.
Despite the backlash, the governing Georgian Dream party has pushed ahead with the bill, insisting that it remains committed to joining the EU and NATO. However, the party’s anti-Western rhetoric in recent months has raised doubts about its true intentions.
As the political crisis in Georgia deepens, the country finds itself at a crossroads between its European aspirations and growing tensions with Russia. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in inspiring the bill but has accused outside powers of meddling in Georgia’s internal affairs.
With protests showing no signs of slowing down, the future of Georgia’s relationship with the EU and its democratic principles hangs in the balance.