In a powerful display of dissent, thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets of Tbilisi to protest a controversial “foreign agents” bill. The legislation, reminiscent of Russia’s restrictive laws, has sparked outrage and mobilised citizens, with some of the largest demonstrations since the country’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
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The Bill and Its Implications The proposed bill mandates that organisations receiving over 20 per cent of their funding from abroad register as agents of foreign influence or face severe fines. Critics argue that this move threatens Georgia’s aspirations of joining the European Union and stifles civil society.