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

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.

The bill requires media and NGOs to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. It is seen by many as influenced by similar legislation in Russia, which has been used to clamp down on the Kremlin’s political opponents and dissent.

On Tuesday, politicians voted 84 to 30 in favour during the third and final reading of the bill.

Protesters skirmished with riot police in the street outside the parliament building in the centre of the capital, Tbilisi, where demonstrations have raged for the last month.

Scuffles even broke out inside the chamber as opposition MPs clashed with members of the ruling Georgian Dream party.