Georgia’s Parliament dispelled any doubt about its stance on a legislative proposal that has sparked large-scale student protests, activists, and opposition demonstrations in the streets of Tbilisi, the capital. With 83 votes in favor and 30 against, the Georgian parliament, controlled by Georgian Dream, backed the controversial foreign agents law often described as inspired by Russia, a move Brussels has warned could push Georgia away from the European Union.
How citizens will react in the coming days remains to be seen. Since April, thousands have taken to the streets, staging marches and sit-ins in Freedom Square and around the Parliament. Earlier protests escalated into clashes with law enforcement, with unofficial tallies suggesting up to 300 arrests since the protests began. On Tuesday morning, protesters gathered near the Parliament to dissuade lawmakers from approving the measure, marking several tense moments as riot police attempted to hold back the anger of demonstrators. The crowd cried out for help, tears streaming down faces, while officers worked to keep order. But to little avail.
The decision now rests on the shoulders of Georgia’s president, Salome Zourabichvili, who has signaled her intent to veto the initiative. Her opposition, however, could be thwarted by Parliament, which has the power to override a presidential veto with another vote and push the measure into effect. Such a move would prolong the political firestorm gripping the country ahead of October parliamentary elections.
This electoral frame has been central to the government’s justification for supporting the law. Officially, the rule would require non-governmental organizations and media outlets receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as influential foreign agents, a measure designed to increase transparency and guard against potential attempts to destabilize Georgia’s democracy. Critics argue the provision could be used as a tool of political control, similar to practices seen in Russia, and not only dismiss the concerns of the protesters but also invite criticism from Washington and Brussels.
Indeed, several Western politicians condemned the authorities after the vote. Nusrat Ghani, a conservative British parliamentarian, warned that the law and the orchestrated intimidation of demonstrators clashed with the democratic values expected of a country seeking NATO membership and risking derailment of euro-Atlantic prospects for Georgia. In response, Archil Talakvadze, a deputy and official in the government-aligned parliamentary leadership, affirmed support for regulations that would strengthen Georgia’s security and democratic development.
Opposition remains fragile and divided about the next concrete steps. Yet in the same day, opposition leaders pressed for international sanctions on the lawmakers who voted in favor of the measure. Leván Bezhashvili, a deputy and head of the political council of the National Movement, urged the international community to sanction the 84 deputies who backed the law, arguing that this would send a clear signal against undemocratic practices.
Bezhashvili contended that by approving the law, the ruling party had effectively yielded Georgia to Russian influence, established a Russian-style regime within the country, and declared war on its own people. He insisted that sanctions should be imposed before President Zurabishvili vetoes the bill, underscoring the urgency of international reaction to the unfolding political stalemate.