Opponents fear the government's bill will silence critics ahead of parliamentary elections later this year.

Tens of thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets of the capital Tbilisi on Saturday evening to protest a controversial “foreign influence” bill backed by the government.

Protesters marched to the capital’s Europe Square holding Georgian and EU flags, chanting “no to the Russian law”.

The law would target civil society organisations and independent media that receive foreign funding.

Massive rallies have gripped the Black Sea Caucasus country for nearly a month after the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced the bill.

Despite a campaign of intimidation ahead of Saturday’s rally - in which dozens of NGO workers, activists and opposition politicians received threats or were physically assaulted - protesters turned up in their thousands undeterred by the pouring rain.

Opposition parties say the bill - coined “Russian law” after Russia’s passing of similar legislation in 2012 - will be used by the government to clamp down on dissent.

  • iarigby@lemmy.worldEnglish
    322·
    6 months ago

    Thousands? This is absolutely insulting, the estimations start at hundred and fifty thousand. Absolutely historic turnout, the march closed down several main avenues*. And the cover photos are shit, they don’t show how massive the crowd was

  • Zedstrian@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
    232·
    6 months ago

    The fact that there’s any Georgians who would support pro-Russian legislation after seeing what Russia’s doing to Ukraine is ludicrous, especially since Georgia’s next on the chopping block if Ukraine were to lose.