wecastonlineMassive crowds of protesters blocked streets in Georgia’s capital and gathered angrily outside the parliament building after lawmakers approved a “foreign influence” bill on Tuesday, which critics deem a Russian-style threat to free speech and the country’s aspirations to join the European Union.
Following the 84-30 vote, protesters in front of parliament attempted to breach metal barriers surrounding the building. At least 13 individuals were arrested, and Georgian news reports depicted one protester with severe cuts and bruises on his head.
The protests swelled after nightfall, with thousands of demonstrators marching to Heroes Square, about two kilometers from the parliament, and blocking the streets converging on the square.
The bill mandates that media outlets, nongovernmental organizations, and other nonprofit groups register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.
The government argues that the bill is necessary to curb the influence of what it considers harmful foreign actors attempting to destabilize politics in the South Caucasus nation of 3.7 million people.
