The bill now awaits the signature of Salome Zourabichvili, the country’s president, to become law. Ms Zourabichvili has said she will veto the legislation, but this will probably be overturned by a vote in parliament.
The reason for her opposition—and that of the protesters—are fears that the bill will be used by the government to suppress the opposition.
Under the bill, which has also been called the “Russia law”, NGOs that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad would have to register as organizations “bearing the interests of foreign powers.”
They will also be monitored by the authorities and face fines of up to $9,400 if they violate the law.
Critics say similar laws have been used in Russia, and other states, to undermine civil society, target NGOs linked to any opposition movement and to stigmatize the government’s opponents.
But for many Georgians the “foreign agents” bill has also become emblematic of the struggle for the country’s future.
Those protesting against it see it not only as a threat to civil liberties but as a severe blow to Georgia’s pro-Western and liberal democratic aspirations.
Instead of heading towards EU membership they fear Georgia will be dragged back into what they regard as the autocratic and deadening Russian sphere of influence.
But Irakli Kobakhidze, the prime minister, has remained unfazed by the criticism and the protests.
He has said that the bill will introduce transparency and claimed that the majority of Georgians support it. His party, Georgian Dream, also has 75 seats in Georgia's 150-seat lower house of parliament. This along with nine MPs from a partner party should give it enough power to weather any political storm, and overturn the presidential veto.
Georgian Dream also has the backing of Bidzina Ivanishvili, its founder who remains its honorary chairman. A billionaire, Ivanishvili apparently has close business and political ties with Russia and is regarded as the puppet master of the Georgian government, dictating policy and deciding on who gets the top jobs, including prime minister.
He has also attacked the West, saying in a speech last month that “important decisions in this world are taken by the global party of war.”
“It is this global force that first forced the confrontation of Georgia with Russia and then put Ukraine in even worse peril,” Ivanishvili continued. “NGOs and the radical opposition are acting on their behalf. The laws that we are proposing are there to expose those dark linkages.”
The fight over the “foreign agents” bill comes as Georgia prepares for parliamentary elections in October.
Even before the controversy over the legislation broke out the elections were already seen as a vote between those supporting a pro-EU Georgia or those with closer ties to Russia.
Victory will give Georgian Dream a fourth term in office, but its popularity has been waning this year despite a dis-united opposition.
It is possible that the bill could be used by the government as a means of solidifying its power before the country goes to the polls.
