Georgia’s parliament speaker signs a divisive foreign influence bill into law

By SOPHIKO MEGRELIDZE
Associated Press

TBILISI, Georgia (AP) — The speaker of Georgia’s parliament says he has given the final endorsement to a divisive “foreign agents” bill. The legislation has prompted weeks of protests by critics who say it will restrict media freedom and jeopardize Georgia’s chances of joining the European Union. Shalva Papuashvili said Monday he signed the bill into law after the legislature, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, dismissed the veto of President Salome Zourabichvili. The bill, which was approved by Parliament last month, requires media, nongovernmental organizations and other nonprofit groups to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.