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Opposition rally held in Tbilisi denouncing 'foreign agents' law

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Opposition rally held in Tbilisi denouncing 'foreign agents' law
Protestors demonstrating against the controversial foreign agents law outside the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi on April 16, 2024. (Vano Shlamov/AFP via Getty Images)

On April 28 in Tbilisi, Georgia, an opposition rally opposing the foreign agents law occurred, starting from Republic Square and culminating at the Parliament.

The legislation mandates that organizations receiving foreign funding be designated as 'foreign agents,' subjecting them to heightened scrutiny. Additionally, the bill grants authorities greater powers to monitor communications, including internal discussions, of these organizations.

Participants chanted slogans denouncing the legislation and projecting messages onto the Parliament building, including 'No to the Russian law.'

The Georgian opposition alleges that the ruling party, Georgian Dream, is enacting the law under Russian influence.

Georgian Dream plans to mobilize supporters in favor of the bill on April 29, with the second reading scheduled for April 30. Georgia's parliament passed the bill in its first reading on April 17, but it must be passed on two more readings before it becomes law.

In 2023, a similar bill was retracted following mass protests. EU officials have previously indicated that the enactment of the law would negatively impact Georgia's prospects for EU membership.

European Parliament adopts resolution condemning Georgia’s foreign agents law
EU officials have previously strongly suggested that the law’s passage would hurt Georgia’s chances of becoming a member of the EU.
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Sonya Bandouil

North American news editor

Sonya Bandouil is a North American news editor for The Kyiv Independent. She previously worked in the fields of cybersecurity and translating, and she also edited for various journals in NYC. Sonya has a Master’s degree in Global Affairs from New York University, and a Bachelor’s degree in Music from the University of Houston, in Texas.

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