Controversial law nears approval amid Georgia protests

Despite a month of public protests in Georgia against a bill that labels civil organizations as ‘foreign agents,’ the government remains steadfast. The bill is set for its final vote in Georgia’s parliament on Tuesday, and it is expected to pass according to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze. On Monday evening, the Prime Minister declared the parliament will act upon the majority of the population’s desire and pass the law in its third reading. Even as late as Monday, thousands of young protesters have shown their discontent outside the parliament in Tbilisi. If enacted, the law will mandate organizations receiving over 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as entities that ‘pursue the interests of a foreign power’ or as ‘foreign agents.’ This law mirrors a similar law adopted in Russia in 2012, which has been utilized to shut down regime-critical media and organizations, leading to concerns that the Georgian law may follow suit.