Protests Persist in Tbilisi, Georgia Against Proposed Foreign Agents Law

Protests in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, persist against proposed legislation aimed at addressing perceived foreign influence in the South Caucasus nation.

If passed, the law would mandate organizations receiving funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents” or face financial penalties.

On April 28, thousands took to the streets of Tbilisi to oppose the bill, which critics—both domestic and foreign—assert is “inspired” by Moscow.

Protester Nika Shurgaia expressed concerns that the bill’s approval would result in the closure of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) that depend on foreign funding for local activities.

“There are numerous NGOs that have significantly contributed to Georgia,” Mr. Shurgaia relayed to Reuters. “Now they are at risk of being labeled and potentially shut down.”

Detractors of the bill mockingly refer to it as “the Russian law,” likening it to legislation ostensibly used by Moscow to suppress political opposition.

The Kremlin denies any connection to the controversial bill.

The bill’s passage is also causing concerns that Georgia’s potential EU membership could be hindered, as the EU granted the country candidate status in December.

Various Western nations, including the United States, Britain, and Germany, have urged Georgia not to proceed with the legislation.

Advocates of the law argue that it is necessary to shield the country from harmful foreign influences posing as “civil society.”

“Georgian society is in favor of NGO transparency,” Deputy Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated to reporters last week.

He stressed that transparency is crucial for an informed society, which is vital for safeguarding the country’s sovereignty.

The ruling Georgian Dream party, which supports the bill, believes it is essential to combat what they view as “pseudo-liberal values” enforced by foreign entities.

Rallies, Counter-Rallies

Thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tbilisi’s central square on April 28 to oppose the proposed legislation.

Subsequently, they marched to the nearby parliament building, where clashes with police erupted, prompting the use of tear gas.

During the confrontation, former Minister of State for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration Alex Petriashvili was apprehended by police, as reported by local media.

Georgia’s interior ministry later confirmed Mr. Petriashvili had been detained for “disorderly conduct.”

The government has called on supporters to organize a counter-demonstration on the evening of April 29 in favor of the bill.

Parliament is scheduled to vote on the bill’s second reading on April 30, an approval that is widely anticipated.

If the second reading passes, opposition parties and civil society groups are anticipated to call for further protests.

Per Georgia’s constitution, the bill must make it through three readings in parliament before becoming law.

Last year, a similar attempt by the ruling party to pass the bill was abandoned following several days of protests.

However, earlier this month, lawmakers from the ruling party reintroduced the draft legislation, with the first reading approved on April 16.

In addition to sparking new protests, the action drew criticism from European Union officials.

“This is a very worrying development,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell stated in a social media post.

“The final approval of this legislation would have a negative impact on Georgia’s EU aspirations,” he remarked.

According to Mr. Borrell, if accepted, the bill would “constrain the ability of civil society and media organizations to operate freely … and unfairly stigmatize organizations that provide benefits to the citizens of Georgia.”

Bill Draws Comparison to U.S. Law

Several social media users—from Georgia and beyond—highlighted that the United States has a nearly identical law: the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) of 1938.

As per the U.S. Justice Department’s website, the FARA “mandates certain agents of foreign principals to make periodic public disclosure of their relationship with the foreign principal, as well as activities, receipts, and disbursements in support of those activities.”

It further states, “Publicizing the required information enables evaluation by the government and the American populace of the activities of such individuals as foreign agents.”

On April 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov asserted that Georgia’s “foreign agents” bill is significantly less stringent than those in other nations.

“In the United States, France, Poland, and numerous other countries, there are laws that entail fines and legal consequences if you accept money [from foreign sources] and fail to disclose it,” Mr. Lavrov remarked in broadcast comments.

Reuters contributed to this report.