NEWS

Rally protesting controversial bill on transparency of foreign funding ongoing in Tbilisi

The public has been protesting the bill, which calls for the registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, for the third day. Photo via IPN

Agenda.ge, 17 Apr 2024 - 23:08, Tbilisi,Georgia

Domestic opposition parties, non-governmental organisations, media outlets and citizens on Wednesday gathered outside the Parliament building in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi to protest the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, with the legislative body approving the first reading of the draft law earlier today.

The public has been protesting the bill, which calls for the registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, for the third day.

The bill has been reintroduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party after its retraction following protests last year, and has been met with criticism from the opposition, the domestic NGO sector and a part of Georgia’s foreign partner states and diplomatic representations.

Besides Tbilisi, the protest includes rallies in several other cities.

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