Protests against the “transparency of foreign influence” law, which was adopted on May 14 in Georgia and slammed on the grounds that it would restrict freedom of expression and suppress non-governmental organizations, continue. Demonstrators, including representatives and members of opposition parties, marched towards the Ministry of Internal Affairs building in the Freedom Square protest in the capital, Tbilisi, carrying Georgian, European and US flags in their hands and frequently shouting slogans. The crowd also demanded the release of demonstrators detained in the protests.
The bill, submitted by the People’s Power Party, which is close to the ruling party, stipulates that civil society and media organizations, which receive more than 20 percent of their annual funding from abroad, must register themselves as “foreign agents” every year or face fines.