Georgia Reintroduces ‘Russian-Inspired’ Foreign Influence Bill, Sparking Protests 

Lawmakers from Georgia’s ruling party have reintroduced draft legislation aimed at combatting perceived foreign influence in the South Caucasus nation. After a heated debate on April 15, the parliament’s legal committee approved a “foreign agents” bill, critics of which—both domestic and foreign—claim is “inspired” by Moscow. On April 16, the assembly began debating the first reading of the proposed legislation, sparking a second day of demonstrations in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital. If enacted, the law would require organizations that accept funding from overseas to register as “foreign agents” or face financial penalties. Several Western countries—including the United States, Britain, and Germany—have urged Georgia not to adopt the legislation....