Rally decries adoption of ‘foreign influence’ law

Thousands of Georgians rallied on Tuesday outside parliament after ruling party MPs adopted a divisive “foreign influence” law, overcoming a presidential veto on the bill despite Western warnings the move could jeopardise the country’s path to the European Union.
The law, which critics have compared to repressive Russian legislation used to silence dissent, forces groups receiving at least 20% of funding from abroad to register as “organisations pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”
The proposal has drawn fierce opposition from Western governments including the United States, which said the measure risked “stifling” freedom of expression in the Black Sea Caucasus nation.
Brussels warned the measure was “incompatible” with the ex-Soviet republic’s longstanding bid for EU membership, which is enshrined in the country’s constitution and supported — according to opinion polls — by more than 80% of the population. Lawmakers voted 84 to 4 to pass the bill on Tuesday, after overriding pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili’s veto.
Most opposition MPs walked out of the 150-seat chamber ahead of the vote.
The EU said that it deeply regretted the law being adopted, and foreign affairs chief Josep Borrell said the bloc was “considering all options to react to these developments”.
Waving Georgian and EU flags, thousands of protesters gathered outside parliament on Tuesday evening with crowds swelling after the chamber voted to adopt the law.
Georgia’s national anthem and EU’s Ode to Joy were performed at the rally. Zurabishvili addressed the crowd by video link.
“You are angry today, aren’t you? Get angry, but let’s get to work. The work is that we have to prepare, first of all, for a true referendum,” she said referring to October’s elections.
“Do we want a European future or Russian slavery? Eighty-four men cannot decide this, we can — we, all together.”