EU urges Georgia to drop 'foreign influence' law I DW News

Opposition leaders and western nations have denounced a so-called foreign influence bill passed by Georgia's national parliament.

Thousands of demonstrators have blocked a major traffic junction in the capital Tbilisi.

DW's Maria Katamadze spoke to former Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili at the protests.

Critics fear the law will be used to stamp out dissent - and will dent Georgia's hopes of joining the European Union. The legislation requires media and other groups to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they get more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili has vowed to veto the bill, but the government says it will use its majority to override her and ensure the measure becomes law.

The European Union have criticised the Georgian government's plans, saying the law isn't compatible with EU membership .

The US government has also cautioned against its adoption, warning that Washingon would "fundamentally reassess" ties with Tbilisi if the bill wasn't withdrawn.

00:00 Protests after Georgia's parliament passes foreign influence bill
02:50 DW Brussels correspondent Rosie Burchard on EU reactions
05:59 DW's Maria Katamadze from Tbilisi on the protests
08:52 DW's Maria Katamadze speaks to former Georgian president Giorgi Margvelashvili

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#georgia #georgiaprotests #foreigninfluencelaw