50,000 March in Georgia Protests; U.S. Threatens Sanctions Over Law

May 12, 2024, 12:11 PM

Georgia is currently experiencing significant political turmoil due to the introduction of a controversial 'foreign agents' law, which has been compared to similar legislation in Russia. This law has sparked widespread protests in Tbilisi, with tens of thousands of citizens demonstrating against what they perceive as an attempt to undermine democratic freedoms and align more closely with Russian interests. Approximately 50,000 people marched in the rain, and reports suggest that half a million Georgians have protested. The U.S. has expressed deep concern over the democratic backsliding in Georgia, with threats of sanctions from 29 members of Congress if the law is not withdrawn. Prominent figures, including billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili, who has been a key figure in Georgian politics and has nurtured relations with Moscow, are at the center of the controversy. The situation remains tense as the government vows to press ahead with the law, despite the massive public outcry and ongoing protests.