Georgia: Thousands rally in protest at ‘foreign influence’ bill

“We are protecting our European future and our freedom,” said another protester, Mariam Meunrgia, 39, who works for a German company.

The law, if passed, could harm Georgia’s attempt to join the EU, which has given it candidate status.

On Friday, foreign ministers of Nordic and Baltic states issued a joint statement urging the government in Tbilisi to reconsider the bill

Last week, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the Georgian people want a “European future”.

“Georgia is at a crossroads. It should stay the course on the road to Europe,” she posted on X.

But the Georgian Dream government has defended the bill, saying it will “boost transparency” over NGOs’ foreign funding. It aims to sign the measure into law by mid-May.

If adopted, the law would require that any independent NGO and media organisation receiving more than 20% of its funding from abroad to register as an “organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power”.

But the protesters fear it could be used to crush critical voices ahead of parliamentary elections later this year.

The bill cleared its second parliamentary stage by a margin of 83 votes to 23. After a third reading, it has to be signed by President Salome Zurabishvili, who has vowed to veto it – although Georgian Dream has sufficient numbers in parliament to overrule her.

In 2023, mass street protests forced Georgian Dream to drop plans for similar measures.