Georgia Protests Foreign Influence Law

Thousands rallied in Georgia after lawmakers advanced a controversial "foreign influence" law that opponents say will undermine Tbilisi's long standing European aspirations.

In a vote boycotted by opposition deputies, 83 lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party backed the first reading of the bill, which has been criticized as mirroring a repressive Russian law on "foreign agents" used there to silence dissent. That was enough for it to pass the 150-seat parliament.

In the evening, thousands of protesters blocked traffic on the main thoroughfare of the Georgian capital Tbilisi, in front of the parliament building, where hundreds of riot police were bussed in.

"No to the Russian law!" shouted demonstrators after the Georgian national anthem and European Union's Ode to Joy were performed at the rally, the third day of mass anti-government protests.

Since Monday, thousands have been taking to the streets in Tbilisi every day to protest against the draft law.

The protests saw riot police chase demonstrators in the labyrinth of narrow streets near parliament, beating them and making arrests.

If adopted, the bill would require any independent NGO and media organization receiving more than 20 percent of funding from abroad to register as an "organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power".

Amnesty International urged Georgia's authorities to "immediately stop their incessant efforts to impose repressive legislation on the country's vibrant civil society."

A similar bill targeting "foreign agents" was dropped last year after mass protests outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, during which police used tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators.

In a surprise announcement ahead of crucial parliamentary elections in October, seen as a key democratic test for the Black Sea country, the ruling Georgian Dream party re-introduced the draft law to parliament earlier this month.