Georgia protests: “Foreign agent” bill sent to legislative main chamber for final vote

The judicial committee of Georgia's parliament approved the third reading of a "foreign agents" bill on Monday, clearing the way for the full parliament to vote this week on completing its passage through the legislature. The "foreign agents" bill requires organizations receiving more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence or face fines. The ruling party says it is needed to enhance the transparency of NGO funding and protect the country from outside interference. Western countries and Georgia's opposition denounce it as authoritarian and Russian-inspired. Critics liken it to Russia's 2012 "foreign agent" law, which has been used to hound critics of Vladimir Putin's Kremlin. The dispute over the bill has come to be seen as key to whether Georgia continues its push for European Union (EU) and NATO membership, or builds ties with Russia instead. "We also want to say that we do not agree with this law, against this fight. This is not good for our European future, which is our dream,” medical student and protester Nodar said. “I am here. I'm standing here with my colleagues from my university. We are graduating this year and we want to say that we want what the public feels, which is European and not pro-Russia." For more info, please go to https://globalnews.ca Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: http://bit.ly/20fcXDc Like Global News on Facebook HERE: http://bit.ly/255GMJQ Follow Global News on X HERE: http://bit.ly/1Toz8mt Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: https://bit.ly/2QZaZIB #GlobalNews #Georgia #Protests