In the Georgian parliament, ruling deputies approved in the first reading the bill on foreign agents, which caused mass protests
The ruling party of Georgia and its allies in parliament approved in the first reading the bill “On Transparency of Foreign Influence,” known as the “foreign agents” law. It obliges foreign-funded non-governmental organizations and media to register in a special register and fill out annual declarations.
The bill was supported by 83 deputies; representatives of the opposition left the hall before the vote. For the decision to come into force, deputies must consider and approve it in two more readings, and then send it to the President of Georgia for signature. At the same time, Salome Zurabishvili is an opponent of the law, calling it “pro-Russian.”
The founder of the opposition TV channel “Mtavari Arkhi” Nika Gvaramia read out the names of 83 deputies who supported the bill in the first reading. The protesters commented on each name with exclamations of “Russian” and “slave”.
Let us remind you that the bill provoked thousands of rallies in Tbilisi. Police dispersed protesters using tear gas and pepper spray. Today, a protest rally continues at the Georgian parliament, the opposition promises to hold a large-scale rally.
