In a move that has sparked concerns over media freedom and Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union (EU), the parliament of Georgia has approved a controversial "foreign agent" law. Critics argue that this law resembles draconian legislation prevalent in neighboring Russia, known for stifling political dissent.

Despite weeks of massive demonstrations in the capital city of Tbilisi opposing the legislation and expressing anger towards Russia, Georgia's parliamentarians voted in favor of the law. Tens of thousands of protesters gathered on Tuesday, shutting down a major intersection, with subsequent protests taking place on Wednesday outside the parliament building.

The law, which now awaits the approval of President Salome Zourabichvili before going into effect, stipulates that media outlets, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other nonprofit organizations must register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. This legislation closely resembles a previous version that was withdrawn following similar protests last year. However, this updated version successfully passed its third and final reading on Tuesday.

The ruling Georgian Dream party argues that the law is necessary to counteract what they perceive as harmful foreign interference in Georgia's political landscape and prevent unidentified foreign actors from destabilizing the country. However, the opposition has vehemently condemned the law, dubbing it "the Russian law" due to its striking similarities to legislation employed by Moscow to stigmatize independent news media and critical organizations. Opposition lawmakers have accused the governing party of attempting to align Georgia with Russia's sphere of influence.

Relations between Russia and Georgia have been strained since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and Georgia's subsequent departure from its former role as a Soviet republic. The two countries engaged in a brief war in 2008 when Georgia made an unsuccessful attempt to regain control over the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Following the conflict, Russia recognized South Ossetia and another separatist province, Abkhazia, as independent states and bolstered its military presence in the regions. Despite improved relations in recent years, the status of these disputed territories remains a contentious issue.

The European Union has expressed strong concerns over the passing of the law. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell described it as a "very concerning development" and warned that its final adoption would hinder Georgia's progress towards EU membership. Borrell previously stated that the law contradicts the core norms and values of the EU while also limiting the freedom of media and civil society organizations to operate independently. European Council President Charles Michel emphasized that adherence to the principles of the rule of law and democratic values is imperative for Georgia's potential EU accession.

The fate of the "foreign agent" law in Georgia now rests in the hands of President Salome Zourabichvili, who has vowed to veto it. However, with the ruling Georgian Dream party holding a significant majority in parliament, they have the power to override the president's veto. As tensions rise and protests continue to engulf the country, the future of media freedom and Georgia's European aspirations hangs in the balance.