Some 20,000 protesters rallied in Georgia on April 17 after lawmakers advanced a controversial "foreign influence" law that opponents say will undermine Tbilisi's long standing European aspirations.
In a vote boycotted by opposition deputies, 83 lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party passed the first reading of the bill, which has been criticised as mirroring a repressive Russian law on "foreign agents" used to silence dissent. That was enough for it to pass the 150-seat parliament.
A former Soviet republic, Georgia has sought for years to deepen relations with the West, but the current ruling party is accused of trying to steer the Black Sea nation toward closer ties with Russia. Once seen as leading the democratic transformation of ex-Soviet countries, Georgia has in recent years been criticized for perceived democratic backsliding.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze—known for anti-Western rhetoric while insisting that he is committed to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations—said the law would boost financial transparency of NGOs funded by Western institutions.
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