Al Jazeera

Thousands of protestors lined the streets of the Georgian capital of Tbilisi after the country's parliament approved a divisive "foreign agents" bill on Tuesday.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Georgia’s capital Tbilisi after the country's parliament passed a divisive "foreign influence" bill on Tuesday. 13 protesters were reportedly arrested.

BBC News

Passed in its third and final reading by 84 votes to 30, the law requires media, non-governmental organizations and other non-profits to register as organizations "bearing the interests of a foreign power" if more than 20% of their funding comes from abroad.

Passed in its third and final reading by 84 votes to 30, the law requires independent media and non-governmental organizations to register as entities "bearing the interests of a foreign power" if their funding is more than 20% foreign.

Guardian

The bill — likened to a similar law passed in Russia in 2012 — is seen by critics in the US and the EU, as well as pro-EU voices in the country, as seeking to draw Georgia back towards the Kremlin's sphere of influence.

Critics in the US and the EU, as well as pro-EU voices in the country, see the law - compared to a similar law passed in Russia in 2012 - as an attempt to silence critics and draw Georgia back into the Kremlin's sphere of influence.

Meanwhile, prior to the bill's passing, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told lawmakers that if it wasn't approved, Georgia would lose its sovereignty and "easily share the fate of Ukraine."

Before the bill's passing, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze claimed to lawmakers that Georgia would lose its sovereignty and "easily share the fate of Ukraine," while critics fear the law may harm Georgia's EU entry efforts.

Associated Press

Those divisions not only spilled out into the streets — where 13 arrests were made after some protestors clashed with police — but also inside the country's parliament. Lawmakers had to be separated by security after a skirmish broke out.

Divisions not only spilled onto the streets - with 13 arrests made after some protesters clashed with police - but also into the country's parliament, where MPs had to be separated by security forces after a skirmish broke out.

Pres. Salome Zourabichvili, an opponent of Kobakhidze, has vowed to veto the bill — although the ruling Georgian Dream party has enough votes to overrule her veto and the law is still expected to pass.

Georgia's President Salome Zourabichvili, an opponent of Kobakhidze, reportedly vowed to veto the bill, but the ruling Georgian Dream party has enough votes to overrule her veto and the law is still expected to pass.

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As can be seen by the presence of EU officials giving speeches in the streets of Tsibili during protests, Western countries are once again meddling in the internal politics of Georgia as they have done elsewhere. This further underscores why such a foreign agents bill is necessary.

The Messenger

Kobakhidze Accuses EU of Interfering in Georgia's Politics, Denies Sanctions Discussion with O'Brien

The passing of this anti-democratic bill looks to align Georgia with Russia, defying the will of the people who seek to integrate with Europe and break away from the malign influence of Moscow. If Georgia wants to make an enemy of the West, while launching further crackdowns on its own people, the West will have to consider sanctions.

The Guardian

US warns Georgia not to side with Moscow against the west

There's a 5% chance that Georgia will control South Ossetia and Abkhazia before 2028, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

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Georgia Passes Divisive 'Foreign Influence' Bill Amid Mass Protests

Georgia Passes Divisive 'Foreign AgentsInfluence' Bill Amid Mass Protests

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