The legislation would have mandated the registration of media outlets and nongovernmental organizations as "agents of foreign influence" if more than 20% of their funding comes from abroad. Opponents claimed that it could obstruct Georgia's efforts to join NATO and the EU and that it was modeled after a law of a similar nature that is used by Russian authorities to stifle opposition.
Tens of thousands of people protested the bill in the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, in recent days. These protests were met with tear gas and water cannons. According to the Interior Ministry, 133 protesters have been arrested.
The Georgian Dream party and its allies announced they would withdraw the proposed law, citing the "controversy in society" the bill caused. The protest leaders announced that demonstrations would pick back up on Thursday night to make sure the bill is actually dropped. Additionally, those who have been arrested will be released.
Salome Zourabichvili, the president of Georgia, had already declared that she would veto the bill.
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