Georgia’s divide: Seniors wary of angering Russia as youth want change
4 months, 3 weeks ago

Georgia’s divide: Seniors wary of angering Russia as youth want change

Al Jazeera  

Tbilisi, Georgia - Georgia is in flux. Critics see the measure as resembling Russia's own "foreign agents" law, which is used to crack down on critics of the Kremlin. Russia's law, like Georgia's, requires those who are labelled as "foreign agents" to regularly report on their income and spending and undergo financial audits. Many among Georgia's Western-leaning younger generation view the law, which was passed in May, as a sign that the ruling Georgian Dream party is tilting towards Russia. Antigovernment protesters have now turned their attention to October's elections when voters will choose between re-electing the Georgian Dream party for a fourth term or ushering in an opposition party.

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History of this topic

Protests lay bare a clash of values and interests as Georgia navigates a Russia-West standoff
3 weeks ago

Protests lay bare a clash of values and interests as Georgia navigates a Russia-West standoff

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia is convulsed by political upheaval again after its pro-Moscow government, fresh off parliamentary elections denounced as rigged by its critics, decided to suspend negotiations for the small former Soviet republic to join the European Union. Putin’s spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, said Moscow views the recent events in Georgia as similar to upheaval that rocked Ukraine in 2013 …

Police in Georgia move again to disperse protests over the suspension of EU talks
3 weeks, 1 day ago

Police in Georgia move again to disperse protests over the suspension of EU talks

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Police in Georgia’s capital again moved to disperse thousands of demonstrators on Monday after over 200 people were detained during four previous nights of protests against the government’s decision to suspend negotiations to join the European Union. Georgian Dream’s disputed victory in the country’s Oct. 26 parliamentary election, widely seen as a referendum on Georgia’s aspirations to …

EU Election in Georgia: A Defining Moment for the Caucasus Nation's Future
Trending News
1 month, 4 weeks ago

EU Election in Georgia: A Defining Moment for the Caucasus Nation's Future

Al Jazeera  

The upcoming EU elections in Georgia will be a defining moment for the country's future, with experts predicting that the geopolitical bifurcation of the country's politics will be a key factor in the outcome. The elections will determine whether Georgia continues down the path of European Union membership or pivots towards Russia under the pro-Russian Georgian Dream party. Polls suggest …

Georgian parliament approves anti-LGBTQ legislation, echoing measures in Russia
3 months, 1 week ago

Georgian parliament approves anti-LGBTQ legislation, echoing measures in Russia

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia’s parliament on Tuesday approved sweeping legislation that curtails LGBTQ+ rights, a measure that echoes laws adopted in neighboring Russia. The bill, introduced by the ruling party Georgian Dream earlier this year, includes bans on same-sex marriages, adoptions by same-sex couples and public endorsement and depictions of LGBTQ+ relations and people in the media. This year, tens …

As Georgia presses on with ‘Russia-style’ laws, its citizens describe a country on the brink
5 months ago

As Georgia presses on with ‘Russia-style’ laws, its citizens describe a country on the brink

Associated Press  

Eka Gigauri is used to harsh words from officials about the anti-corruption work she does in Georgia. The “foreign influence” law requires media, civil society groups and nonprofit organizations to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. Almost exactly a year later, Georgian Dream first put the …

US imposes travel bans on Georgian officials over new law that critics say will curb media freedom
6 months, 2 weeks ago

US imposes travel bans on Georgian officials over new law that critics say will curb media freedom

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The United States imposed sanctions …

Hundreds of Georgian NGOs pledge to defy ‘foreign influence’ law
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Hundreds of Georgian NGOs pledge to defy ‘foreign influence’ law

Al Jazeera  

The NGOs say they’re ready to pay penalties under ‘the Russian law … which nobody will obey’. Hundreds of NGOs in Georgia have decided to defy the country’s controversial “foreign influence” law. The law requires media, NGOs and other nonprofit groups to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their …

Georgia parliament overrides president’s veto of controversial ‘foreign agents’ law
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Georgia parliament overrides president’s veto of controversial ‘foreign agents’ law

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The Georgian parliament has overridden …

Victory for Putin as Georgia's parliament overrides presidential veto and passes divisive 'foreign agents' legislation - despite mass protests against the bill described as 'the Russian law'
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Victory for Putin as Georgia's parliament overrides presidential veto and passes divisive 'foreign agents' legislation - despite mass protests against the bill described as 'the Russian law'

Daily Mail  

Vladimir Putin has scored a major victory after Georgia forced through a ‘foreign agents’ bill that brings the fiercely pro-Western country closer to Moscow. Georgia is the most pro-Western country in the region, long seen as a ‘beacon of democracy’, and dragging it back into Putin’s sphere would mark a huge victory over the West Demonstrator with a placard with …

Georgian lawmakers debate overriding presidential veto of divisive foreign influence bill
6 months, 3 weeks ago

Georgian lawmakers debate overriding presidential veto of divisive foreign influence bill

Hindustan Times  

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgian lawmakers on Tuesday debated a motion to override a presidential veto of the “foreign agents” legislation that has fueled Western concerns and sparked massive protests for weeks. Georgian lawmakers debate overriding presidential veto of divisive foreign influence bill The legislature controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party considered dismissing President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto of the bill …

Georgia’s president vetoes media legislation that has provoked weeks of protests
7 months ago

Georgia’s president vetoes media legislation that has provoked weeks of protests

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia’s president on Saturday vetoed the so-called “Russian law” targeting media that has sparked weeks of mass protests. President Salome Zourabichvili, who is increasingly at odds with Georgia’s ruling party, said on Saturday that the legislation contradicts Georgia’s Constitution and “all European standards,” and added that it “must be abolished.” The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has a …

Georgia’s president vetoes controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill
7 months ago

Georgia’s president vetoes controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill

Al Jazeera  

President Salome Zourabichvili says the law is ‘Russian in its essence’, but parliament is expected to overturn veto. Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili has vetoed the “foreign influence” bill that has sparked unprecedented protests in the country and warnings from Brussels that the measure would undermine Tbilisi’s European Union aspirations. The draft law requires non-governmental organisations and media outlets with more …

Georgia’s leader says a divisive media bill passed by lawmakers is unacceptable and she’ll veto it
7 months, 1 week ago

Georgia’s leader says a divisive media bill passed by lawmakers is unacceptable and she’ll veto it

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — A controversial media bill passed this week by Georgia’s parliament is “unacceptable” and will be vetoed, President Salome Zourabichvili said Thursday, reaffirming her opposition to a measure that critics describe as a threat to free speech. In an interview with The Associated Press, Zourabichvili harshly criticized the ruling Georgian Dream party for pushing the bill that also …

Georgia approves ‘foreign agents bill’: Why is the Russia-style law so controversial?
7 months, 1 week ago

Georgia approves ‘foreign agents bill’: Why is the Russia-style law so controversial?

Firstpost  

Georgia’s parliament has approved the ‘foreign agents bill’ in an 84-30 vote, resulting in strong protests and demonstrations across Tbilisi. People of the country have taken to the streets of its capital, Tbilisi, and chanting slogans outside the parliament building after lawmakers on Tuesday approved a “foreign agents” bill that critics call a Russian-style threat to free speech and also …

Georgia’s ‘foreign agents’ bill: What’s the controversy about? What’s next?
7 months, 1 week ago

Georgia’s ‘foreign agents’ bill: What’s the controversy about? What’s next?

Al Jazeera  

The ‘Russia law’ will make it hard for Georgia to join European Union, argue protesters, the US and Baltic states. Georgia’s Parliament passed its new “transparency of foreign influence” bill – also known as the “foreign agents” law – on Tuesday despite mass protests that have rocked the capital, Tbilisi, for the past few weeks. Georgia’s government says the bill …

Georgia parliament passes ‘foreign agent’ bill, triggering massive protests
7 months, 1 week ago

Georgia parliament passes ‘foreign agent’ bill, triggering massive protests

Al Jazeera  

Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in Georgia after parliament approved a “foreign agents” bill despite widespread unrest in the country and warnings from the European Union and the United States. Chanting “no to the Russian law”, about 2,000 mainly young protesters gathered outside parliament ahead of the vote and several thousand joined the rally in the evening …

What is the newly passed ‘Russia law’ that has divided people in Georgia for months?
7 months, 1 week ago

What is the newly passed ‘Russia law’ that has divided people in Georgia for months?

Associated Press  

Georgia’s parliament has passed a law that critics see as a threat to media freedom and the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. Riot police block a street to prevent demonstrators during an opposition protest against “the Russian law” near the Parliament building in the center of Tbilisi, Georgia, Tuesday, May 14, 2024. The governing party says the law …

Protesters throng streets of Georgia's capital after parliament passes so-called 'Russian law'
7 months, 1 week ago

Protesters throng streets of Georgia's capital after parliament passes so-called 'Russian law'

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Huge throngs of protesters blocked streets in the capital of Georgia and milled angrily outside the parliament building after lawmakers on Tuesday approved a “foreign influence” bill that critics call a Russian-style threat to free speech and the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. European Council President Charles Michel said Tuesday that if Georgians “want to …

Last stand for democracy as 1,000 protesters demonstrate against Georgia's 'Russian law' that copies Kremlin's repressive legislation and moves the country closer to Putin
7 months, 1 week ago

Last stand for democracy as 1,000 protesters demonstrate against Georgia's 'Russian law' that copies Kremlin's repressive legislation and moves the country closer to Putin

Daily Mail  

Around 1,000 protesters were still outside Georgia's parliament Monday morning after an all-night last-stand demonstration against a highly controversial Russian-style 'foreign influence' bill. Police Force face protesters during a protest against the foreign agents law as two Americans and one Russian citizen are among 20 detained on May 13, 2024 in Tbilisi, Georgia Police intervene protesters as demonstrators protest the …

Thousands of Georgians defy warnings to join protest against ‘Russia’ bill
7 months, 1 week ago

Thousands of Georgians defy warnings to join protest against ‘Russia’ bill

Al Jazeera  

Protesters are angry at government efforts to pass a law against ‘foreign agents’ which mirrors repressive Russian legislation. Thousands of Georgians have joined new protests in Tbilisi against a Russian-styled “foreign agents” bill, as the government insisted it would push ahead with the legislation even after some of the largest protests since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Carrying …

‘No to the Russian law!’ Georgia protesters demand a ‘European future’
7 months, 2 weeks ago

‘No to the Russian law!’ Georgia protesters demand a ‘European future’

Al Jazeera  

Tbilisi, Georgia – Crowds of protesters have been braving tear gas and water canons after more than two weeks of protest against the Georgian government’s draft law targeting civil society. US Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan said in a statement on May 2 that the US government had invited Georgia’s prime minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, to high-level talks “with the most …

Georgian lawmakers move closer to passing ‘Russian law’ targeting the media. Protesters gather again
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Georgian lawmakers move closer to passing ‘Russian law’ targeting the media. Protesters gather again

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia’s Parliament moved a step closer Wednesday to passing a law that critics fear will stifle media freedom and endanger the country’s European Union membership bid, as police used water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray against the tens of thousands of protesters who thronged surrounding streets. Opposition lawmaker Helene Khoshtaria accused the ruling party of trying …

Georgia police crack down on protest against ‘foreign influence’ bill
7 months, 3 weeks ago

Georgia police crack down on protest against ‘foreign influence’ bill

Al Jazeera  

The crackdown in Tbilisi comes after lawmakers debated a controversial bill on foreign funding. Police in Georgia have used tear gas and rubber bullets against protesters as thousands rallied outside parliament in Tbilisi for a third week to oppose a controversial “foreign influence” bill. Masked riot police violently cracked down on the rally on Tuesday beating and arresting many people …

Georgia advances ‘foreign agents’ bill as 20,000 rally against it
8 months ago

Georgia advances ‘foreign agents’ bill as 20,000 rally against it

Al Jazeera  

The ruling party suddenly reintroduced the bill earlier this month, after mass protests forced its withdrawal last year. Critics say the bill mirrors a repressive Russian law on “foreign agents” that has been used against independent news media and groups seen as being at odds with the Kremlin and will undermine Tbilisi’s aspirations for closer European Union ties and, ultimately, …

Thousands protest in Georgia over contentious ‘foreign agents’ bill
8 months, 1 week ago

Thousands protest in Georgia over contentious ‘foreign agents’ bill

Al Jazeera  

Thousands of Georgians took to the streets in protest and politicians came to blows in parliament as governing party legislators gave the initial go-ahead for debate on a bill on “foreign agents” that has been criticised by Western and domestic critics as Russian inspired. More than 5,000 demonstrators gathered outside Georgia’s Soviet-built parliament building on Monday in the capital, Tbilisi, …

Georgia lawmakers scuffle over a divisive bill that opponents say mimics Kremlin’s repressive law
8 months, 1 week ago

Georgia lawmakers scuffle over a divisive bill that opponents say mimics Kremlin’s repressive law

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Lawmakers in Georgia’s legislature scuffled on Monday as the parliament debated a divisive new law dubbed the foreign agent bill. Opponents of the measure denounce it as “the Russian law” because of similar legislation used by Moscow to stigmatize independent news media and organizations seen as being at odds with the Kremlin. Those who oppose the measure …

Lawmakers brawl as Georgian Parliament considers ‘foreign agent’ bill
8 months, 1 week ago

Lawmakers brawl as Georgian Parliament considers ‘foreign agent’ bill

Al Jazeera  

Legislators debate bill requiring organisations that accept overseas funds to register as foreign agents or face fines. Lawmakers in Georgia have come to blows inside parliament as ruling party legislators appeared likely to advance a bill on “foreign agents” that has been criticised by Western countries and has caused protests at home as “pro-Russia”. Before a rally to protest the …

Protests called as Georgia revives controversial ‘foreign agents’ law
8 months, 3 weeks ago

Protests called as Georgia revives controversial ‘foreign agents’ law

Al Jazeera  

Pro-democracy groups have called for protests after Georgia’s governing party said it will revive the controversial “foreign agents law” that mass demonstrations forced it to drop last year. The governing Georgian Dream party said on Wednesday that it plans to make another bid to pass the legislation, which would require organisations that accept funding from abroad to register as “foreign …

Georgia drops foreign agents law after massive protests
1 year, 9 months ago

Georgia drops foreign agents law after massive protests

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia’s parliament voted Friday to drop a foreign agent registration bill after the legislation, which opponents warned could be used to stifle dissent and curtail media freedoms, prompted tens of thousands of protesters to swarm the capital this week. The proposed law would have required media and nongovernmental organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding …

Georgia’s parliament drops controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill
1 year, 9 months ago

Georgia’s parliament drops controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill

Al Jazeera  

Meanwhile, the Kremlin accuses Washington of stoking anti-Russian sentiment among the thousands who protested against the bill. Georgia’s parliament has dropped plans for a “foreign agents” bill that triggered a major domestic political crisis and threatened to derail the nation’s bid for closer ties with Europe. Al Jazeera’s Bernard Smith reporting from Tblisi said people were “very pleased” with the …

Georgia to drop foreign agents law after massive protests
1 year, 9 months ago

Georgia to drop foreign agents law after massive protests

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgia’s governing party said Thursday it would withdraw draft legislation that opponents — and tens of thousands of protesters who swarmed the capital — warned could stifle dissent and curtail media freedoms, ushering in Russian-style repression. The bill would have required media and nongovernmental organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to …

As Georgia withdraws ‘foreign agent bill’, a look at nations with similar laws
1 year, 9 months ago

As Georgia withdraws ‘foreign agent bill’, a look at nations with similar laws

Firstpost  

The Georgia bill would have required media and nongovernmental organisations that receive over 20 per cent of their funding from foreign sources to register as ‘agents of foreign influence’. Explained: The ‘Russia-like’ law that has sparked violent protests in Georgia Let’s take examine nations with similar laws: Russia According to CNN, Russia in 2012 passed the NGO Law on “Foreign …

Victory for Georgia protesters as government halts plan to bring in Putin-like authoritarian laws
1 year, 9 months ago

Victory for Georgia protesters as government halts plan to bring in Putin-like authoritarian laws

Daily Mail  

The ruling Georgian Dream party said it would 'unconditionally withdraw the bill' Protesters said the proposed bill was inspired by an authoritarian Russian law Georgia's ruling party said on Thursday it was dropping a controversial 'foreign agent' bill after two nights of furious protests against the law seen as reminiscent of Russian legislation used to silence critics. A man waves …

‘No to the Russian law’: Georgians protest ‘foreign agents’ bill
1 year, 9 months ago

‘No to the Russian law’: Georgians protest ‘foreign agents’ bill

Al Jazeera  

Police use water cannons and tear gas as thousands gather in Tbilisi in protest against a proposed foreign agents law. Police in the Georgian capital Tbilisi have fired water cannons and tear gas to disperse crowds protesting against a proposed “foreign agents” law that is reminiscent of a Russian measure used to silence critics. Thousands gathered there for a second …

Georgians protest against draft law on media, nonprofits
1 year, 9 months ago

Georgians protest against draft law on media, nonprofits

Associated Press  

TBILISI, Georgia — Georgian authorities used tear gas and water cannon outside the parliament building in the capital Tuesday against protesters who oppose a proposed law some see as stifling freedom of the press. The law, which has received initial approval, would require media outlets and nongovernmental organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to …

‘Foreign agents’ law: Why are protests taking place in Georgia?
1 year, 9 months ago

‘Foreign agents’ law: Why are protests taking place in Georgia?

Al Jazeera  

A ‘foreign agent’ bill reminiscent of a controversial law passed in Russia has triggered protests in Tbilisi. Thousands of people have taken to the streets of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, for a second consecutive day to protest against a controversial “foreign agents” draft law. Critics have pointed to a similar law passed in Russia, where all organisations or individuals receiving financial …

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