This month, 1,000 people chose to support the Kyiv Independent. Can we count on you, too?
Become a member
Skip to content
Protestors gather outside the parliament during a demonstration against a draft bill on "foreign influence" in Tbilisi on April 16, 2024. (Vano Shlamov/AFP via Getty Images)
This audio is created with AI assistance

Georgia's parliament on May 14 passed the controversial "foreign agents" bill in its third and final reading.

The bill requires organizations that receive foreign funding to be labeled as "foreign agents," prompting fears that this would help the government stifle domestic opposition and civil society.

The law, backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, mirrors repressive Russian legislation used to crack down on Kremlin regime critics, earning it the nickname "Russian law" by its opponents.

Its introduction into the parliament has led to widespread protests across the country and criticism from the EU and the U.S.

The bill was passed with the support of 84 lawmakers, with 30 parliamentarians voting against it.

Georgia's pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili previously said she would veto the bill. The country's constitution allows the president to either sign the law within 10 days or return it to the parliament.

Georgian Dream has enough votes in the parliament to override the veto, allowing it to be signed by the legislature's chairman instead.

As the bill was passed in its third reading, large-scale protests continued at the parliament's building.

0:00
/
A video recorded at the Georgian parliament's building on May 14, 2024. (Nate Ostiller/The Kyiv Independent)
Explainer: What’s behind ongoing protests in Georgia?
The protests, which grew out of opposition to the controversial foreign agents law, have begun to morph into a larger sign of discontent against the government and the direction it is taking the country.
Let’s see how far we can go?
We’ve been amazed by your support. We’ve reached our initial goal of finding 1,000 new paying members. We still have till the end of our birthday campaign — with more support, we can do even more good journalism. Over 13,000 people are standing behind us. Can we count on you, too?
Show us support this birthday month
Become a member
visa masterCard americanExpress

News Feed

4:06 PM

Politico lists Yermak, Putin among Europe's most influential people.

Politico presented on Dec. 10 its end-of-the-year list of the most influential people in Europe, with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s chief of staff Andriy Yermak and Russian President Vladimir Putin among the finalists for the "dreamers" and "doers" categories, respectively.
MORE NEWS

Editors' Picks

Enter your email to subscribe
Please, enter correct email address
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required

Subscribe

* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Subscribe
* indicates required
Explaining Ukraine with Kate Tsurkan
* indicates required
Successfuly subscribed
Thank you for signing up for this newsletter. We’ve sent you a confirmation email.