The Georgian Dream – Democratic Georgia coalition has withdrawn from parliament a controversial bill on foreign agents that triggered street protests in Tbilisi.
The move came in a joint statement from the ruling team, the parliamentary majority, and the People’s Power popular movement that originally sponsored the measure.
Officials described the bill as having been unfairly labeled a “Russian law” and said its first-reading approval was presented as a deviation from Georgia’s European course. They asserted that, as representatives of all citizens, they chose to withdraw the proposal without further persuasion or pressure. They also criticized the way the public was influenced by what they called a “polygraph machine” that framed the bill negatively.
Georgian lawmakers expressed concern that radical elements were steering some youths toward unlawful actions. Deputies thanked the police for their measured response to the clashes surrounding the demonstrations.
The sentiment expressed was that peace, stability, and ongoing economic progress must be safeguarded as Georgia moves along its European integration path.
With tensions expected to ease, lawmakers planned to clarify to the public why the bill was proposed and why transparency regarding foreign influence matters. In the coming weeks, they intended to engage directly with communities, holding meetings to explain the full details to residents and address concerns.
However, opposition voices remained steadfast. Tsotne Koberidze of the Girchi-More Freedom Party called for greater clarity about the withdrawal process and the fate of those detained at demonstrations, urging the governing party to spell out its intentions.
“There will likely be ongoing attention today because many young people distrust the governing party,” Koberidze noted. He asked how the withdrawal would proceed and emphasized that relief would be incomplete while protesters remain in custody.
Imedi TV reported that the European Union welcomed the decision and urged all Georgian leaders to pursue inclusive, pro-European reforms aligned with the country’s candidate status priorities. The EU delegation in Georgia expressed support for a renewal of reforms across the political spectrum in line with those priorities.
Protests escalated on March 7, when demonstrators gathered outside the parliament building in the early hours to oppose the Foreign Agents Act, which was approved at first reading that day. The following day, protesters vowed to surround the parliament to prevent lawmakers from entering, with opposition figures urging entrances at key locations to press demands. An ultimatum was delivered to release those detained and withdraw the bill within a tight deadline.
Clashes ensued as law enforcement dispersed crowds, with protesters responding by throwing objects and lashing out with fireworks. Since March 7, about 133 people were detained on charges including petty hooliganism and disobedience, and dozens of police officers were injured in the unrest.
President Salome Zurabishvili expressed support for the protesters, offering a message of solidarity in public statements and on social media, highlighting Georgia’s long-standing commitment to freedom and democratic values.
Nighttime confrontations intensified on March 9, as protesters continued demonstrations despite tear gas and water cannons. Reports from news agencies described ongoing barricade removals and continued clashes around the parliament complex. At the outset of the process, a committee evaluated the draft law on foreign influence, with some parliamentary members from different factions attempting to disrupt the meeting. The proposal sought to create a registry for non-governmental organizations, media outlets, and other bodies receiving foreign funding, framed by supporters as a softened version of comparable laws abroad. Critics argued that the measure could threaten Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic outlook and its relations with partner nations, and some officials pointed to Kremlin influence as a concern. In response, U.S. officials urged restraint and underscored the importance of maintaining Georgia’s pro-democracy trajectory and partnerships beyond the region. The State Department noted that passing such bills would clash with the Georgian public’s stated desire for European integration and democratic development ([Source attribution: State Department briefings and EU statements]).
mass protests
The demonstrations began on March 7 with protesters converging on the parliament complex from early morning. They opposed the Foreign Agents Act, which they believed aimed to regulate groups receiving foreign funding at a time when the measure had just cleared its first hurdle. On March 8, organizers called for a large, sustained presence around the parliament to prevent deputies from entering the building, while political leaders urged participants to remain peaceful and focused on their demands. The events culminated in clashes between participants and security forces, including the use of tear gas and other crowd-control measures. By that stage, numerous arrests had been made and injuries sustained among both protesters and police personnel. The episode drew broad national and international attention as discussions about foreign influence and democratic governance intensified. President Zurabishvili publicly voiced support for the protesters, emphasizing the importance of freedom and the democratic process in Georgia’s ongoing European journey. The ensuing days saw continued reporting on the status of detainees and the parliamentary debate surrounding transparency and foreign influence, with international observers calling for restraint and a renewed commitment to reform. The debate over the bill reflected broader tensions about Georgia’s path toward closer ties with the European Union and its alliances with North American partners, including discussions about the role of external funding and influence in Georgian civil society and media ([Citation: EU Delegation to Georgia; U.S. State Department]).
In summary, the withdrawal of the bill marked a significant moment in Georgia’s domestic politics, signaling a pause in a contentious policy that had sparked widespread public protest and drawn international commentary while underscoring the country’s ongoing dialogue about transparency, European integration, and governance.