Georgia’s parliament to drop foreign agents law after protests

• Georgia’s parliament formally revoked a “foreign influence” bill.
• Senior officials in the United States and the European Union have also expressed concern.
• Thousands of people protested outside Georgia’s parliament for a second night.

According to the country’s public broadcaster, Georgia’s parliament formally revoked a “foreign influence” bill that sparked major protests and an international outcry this week.

The announcement came a day after the country’s ruling party said it would scrap the proposed legislation, and just hours after tens of thousands of people protested outside Georgia’s parliament for a second night. Senior officials in the United States and the European Union have also expressed concern about the bill.

The contentious legislation would have required organisations that receive 20% or more of their annual income from abroad to register as “foreign agents” or face heavy fines – a proposal that rights experts warned would chill civil society in the country and harm democracy.

Also Read

Tens of thousands march in Georgia ‘for Europe’ after blow to EU bid

An estimated 60,000 people gathered outside the Georgian parliament for the "March...