In eastern Europe, Georgians protest bill to register foreign-funded groups

Riot police on Tuesday used tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters outside the parliament building. Police arrested dozens of demonstrators and the Interior Ministry reported injuries on both sides. Thousands of people have gathered in the capital city of Tbilisi for days to oppose the draft law on foreign agents. On Thursday, Georgia’s ruling party said it was withdrawing the bill in response to the protests.

Why the concern over the proposed law? The draft law would require nongovernmental organizations and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign sources to register as “agents of foreign influence.” Opponents have said the proposal will hinder press freedom and democracy, and likely obstruct the country’s effort to join the European Union. The bill received initial approval from lawmakers, but Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has said she plans to veto it.

Dig deeper: From the WORLD archives, read my report on how Russia used its “foreign agent” law to shut down a rights group.