Young People In Georgia Are Holding Huge Unprecedented Protests Against A “Russia-Like Law” That Could Crack Down On Opposition
The law would require media, non-governmental and non-profit organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “carrying the interests of a foreign power”.
Young people in Georgia are holding huge unprecedented protests against a “Russia-like law” that could crack down on opposition.
The law would require media, non-governmental and non-profit organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “carrying the interests of a foreign power”.
It was allegedly modeled after a 2012 Russian law, which allowed the Russian government to crack down on independent news media, nonprofits and activists who were critical of the Kremlin.
The Georgian government said the law will stop “harmful foreign influence” and “foreign actors” from trying to destabilize the country, according to AP.
Protesters, meanwhile, say the law could endanger democracy, derail Georgia’s hopes of joining the European Union and increase Russian influence in the country.
Georgia’s parliament had approved the draft bill in March 2023, but the government withdrew it after large-scale protests.
But it reintroduced the law in April 2024, and on Tuesday, May 14, lawmakers approved it with a vote of 84 to 30.
The president, a critic of the government, must sign it into law, but she has told the BBC that she would veto it.
However, the ruling Georgian Dream party has enough members in the parliament that it can override the veto with a majority of votes.
At least 20 people have been arrested during the protests, and people have reported police using water cannons and tear gas to break up crowds.
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Wendy Chuang
Kassy Cho
