Accessibility links

Subscribe
All RFE/RL sites
All RFE/RL websites Follow RFE/RL on Google
site logo site logo
Previous Next
Breaking News
News

Protesters Give Georgian Government Ultimatum To Pull Controversial 'Foreign Agents' Law

Updated
Demonstrators hold a Georgian national flag as they protest against a controversial "foreign agents" bill outside the parliament in Tbilisi on April 17.
Demonstrators hold a Georgian national flag as they protest against a controversial "foreign agents" bill outside the parliament in Tbilisi on April 17.

TBILISI -- Thousands of Georgians rallied in front of parliament demanding the government immediately withdraw a controversial "foreign agents" bill being pushed through the legislature after lawmakers approved the first reading of it despite warnings from civil society groups and several Western governments that the bill is a replica of Russia's law on "foreign agents," which Moscow has used for years to muzzle dissent.

Poet Rati Amaglobeli, one of the speakers at the rally on April 17, said the government had one hour to revoke the bill or face "the unbreakable will of the Georgian people." Just hours earlier, 83 lawmakers supported the legislation in its first reading while no votes were cast against.

Protesters Vow To Continue Demos As Georgia's 'Foreign Agents' Law Passes First Reading

Thousands of Georgians rally late into the night on April 17-18 in front of parliament, demanding that the government immediately withdraw a controversial "foreign agents" bill.
1/10 Thousands of Georgians rally late into the night on April 17-18 in front of parliament, demanding that the government immediately withdraw a controversial "foreign agents" bill.
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
<div>Protests have been going on since the ruling Georgian Dream party announced its intentions of reintroducing the bill after a previous version was dropped in 2023. This new version omits the phrase &quot;foreign agent.&quot;</div>
2/10
Protests have been going on since the ruling Georgian Dream party announced its intentions of reintroducing the bill after a previous version was dropped in 2023. This new version omits the phrase "foreign agent."
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
An aerial view of the mass protests in Tbilisi on April 17<br /> <br /> The government withdrew the bill introduced last year due to&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-foreign-agent-law-again/32891424.html" target="_blank">widespread protests</a></strong>&nbsp;against the proposal. The law would require organizations with foreign funding to register their activities, give the authorities broad oversight powers, and allow criminal penalties for vague infractions.<br /> <br /> &nbsp;
3/10 An aerial view of the mass protests in Tbilisi on April 17

The government withdrew the bill introduced last year due to widespread protests against the proposal. The law would require organizations with foreign funding to register their activities, give the authorities broad oversight powers, and allow criminal penalties for vague infractions.

 
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
Protesters hold up signs that say, &quot;Yes to Europe&quot; and &quot;No to Russian law&quot; on April 16.<br /> <br /> The controversial law would require media and nongovernmental organizations (NGO&#39;s) that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register and report their activities to the authorities.<br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;
4/10 Protesters hold up signs that say, "Yes to Europe" and "No to Russian law" on April 16.

The controversial law would require media and nongovernmental organizations (NGO's) that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register and report their activities to the authorities.


 
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
<div>Supporters of the bill say it mirrors similar U.S. legislation and promotes transparency. Opponents say the bill would stifle dissent and silence independent media and compare it to similar legislation in Russia, which is why many call it the &quot;Russian law.&quot;&nbsp;</div>
5/10
Supporters of the bill say it mirrors similar U.S. legislation and promotes transparency. Opponents say the bill would stifle dissent and silence independent media and compare it to similar legislation in Russia, which is why many call it the "Russian law." 
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
An opposition lawmaker&nbsp;<a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/georgia-protests-foreign-agent-legislation/32906552.html" target="_blank"><strong>attacked</strong> </a>a member of the ruling party as he tried to present the controversial bill, resulting in scuffles in parliament on April 15.
6/10 An opposition lawmaker attacked a member of the ruling party as he tried to present the controversial bill, resulting in scuffles in parliament on April 15.
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
That same day, at least 14 people were arrested during evening protests when scuffles between protesters and police broke out.<br /> <br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;
7/10 That same day, at least 14 people were arrested during evening protests when scuffles between protesters and police broke out.



 
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
The final reading of the bill is scheduled to be debated on May 17. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has said&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://twitter.com/Zourabichvili_S/status/1780559987783115151?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1780559987783115151%7Ctwgr%5E0f2ea18109c57196ddac892e5de9f9dc05c524f3%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&amp;ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ekhokavkaza.com%2Fa%2F32909288.html" target="_blank">she will veto it</a></strong>&nbsp;if it&rsquo;s approved.
8/10 The final reading of the bill is scheduled to be debated on May 17. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has said she will veto it if it’s approved.
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
Zurabishvili said the bill in question was &quot;exactly a copy of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin&#39;s law.&quot; However, the ruling&nbsp;Georgian Dream party has a large enough majority to override her veto.
9/10 Zurabishvili said the bill in question was "exactly a copy of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's law." However, the ruling Georgian Dream party has a large enough majority to override her veto.
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
EU officials&nbsp;<strong><a href="https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/georgia-statement-high-representative-and-commissioner-neighbourhood-and-enlargement-adoption_en?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR2pdDL4npbSSmz1PlE9K3kk-tvCiulZeAsHszRNpcdSmZpED0EdIZ7QIDA_aem_ATu6-XNUkgKDTqKdLwZR46BPWMdrf2hwL9RU5NHX2KdT898ZNlontFAVJIb1r2itYkeZCIjne6RCXKjpqWWvy_EZ" target="_blank">said</a></strong>&nbsp;the bill was &quot;incompatible&quot; with the values of the bloc and that it might &quot;negatively impact Georgia&#39;s progress on its EU path&quot; if made law.
10/10 EU officials said the bill was "incompatible" with the values of the bloc and that it might "negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path" if made law.
Thousands of Georgians protested for a third straight night outside the parliament building in Tbilisi on April 17, calling on the government to withdraw its controversial "foreign agents" bill. Critics say it is similar to legislation that was used in Russia to silence dissent.
Previous slide
Next slide

There was no immediate comment from government officials, nor from the ruling Georgian Dream party that reintroduced the bill that would force foreign-funded entities to register as foreign agents -- a move that many liken to similar legislation enforced in Russia that has been used to severely restrict dissent and the activity of civil society groups.

The legislation, which sparked mass protests when first introduced last year, causing the government to withdraw the bill, would also introduce wide oversight powers by the authorities and potential criminal sanctions for undefined criminal offences.

"I ask, is it our request today to withdraw this law today?! Yes, today! They should make a political statement today, as they did a year ago," Amaglobeli told the crowd. He did not say what the protesters planned to do if the bill is not revoked.

Georgian Protesters Demand Ruling Party 'Back Down' On 'Foreign Agents' Law
Embed
Georgian Protesters Demand Ruling Party 'Back Down' On 'Foreign Agents' Law
by RFE/RL

No media source currently available

0:00 0:02:15 0:00

The final reading of the bill is scheduled to be debated on May 17 and Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, told BBC News that she will veto it if it's approved in its final reading.

Zurabishvili said that her major concern is the fact that the bill in question is "exactly a copy of [Russian President Vladimir] Putin's law."

However, Zurabishvili said that the ruling Georgian Dream party had enough lawmakers to override her if she does use her veto.

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Neighborhood and Enlargement Oliver Verhelyi issued a joint statement shortly after the first reading, calling the lawmakers' move "a very concerning development" that may "negatively impact Georgia’s progress on its EU path” if endorsed into law.

"Georgia has a vibrant civil society that contributes to the country’s successful progress towards EU membership. The proposed legislation would limit the capacity of civil society and media organizations to operate freely, could limit freedom of expression and unfairly stigmatize organizations that deliver benefits to the citizens of Georgia," the statement said,

It urged Tbilisi "to refrain from adopting legislation that can compromise Georgia’s EU path, a path supported by the overwhelming majority of Georgian citizens."

Vedant Patel, deputy spokesman at the U.S. State Department, said Washington remains "deeply concerned that this bill, if passed, will stigmatize civil society organizations that work to improve the lives of Georgian citizens and the media that provide information to the public."

  • 16x9 Image

    RFE/RL's Georgian Service

    RFE/RL's Georgian Service is a trusted source of politically and financially independent journalism in a country where much of the media is aligned with the government or the opposition.

This item is part of
​
XS
SM
MD
LG