Georgian parliament passes controversial 'foreign agents' bill in first reading
The Georgian parliament on April 17 approved the first reading of the controversial "foreign agents" bill with 83 lawmakers supporting the legislation and no votes against, RFE/RL reported.
As the session took place, demonstrators continued to protest the bill in front of the parliament building. Leaders of several opposition parties left parliament in protest against the bill.
The final reading of the bill is scheduled to be debated on May 17. Thousands of political activists have protested against the bill for days, calling it a replica of Russia's law on foreign agents that Moscow has used for years to muzzle dissent.