The measures were initially proposed last year, but were dropped amid widespread public outcry and criticism from abroad in which comparisons were drawn with rules introduced by Russia to stifle dissent and suffocate civil society.
The EU, which granted Georgia candidate status in November, has said the bill is “incompatible with European values.” A spokesperson told POLITICO earlier this month that the government should withdraw it or else risk undermining its chances of joining the bloc.
The U.S. State Department, meanwhile, said the “Kremlin-inspired” legislation could “limit freedom of expression, stigmatize organizations that deliver these benefits to the citizens of Georgia, and impede independent media organizations working to provide Georgians with access to high quality information.”
Despite the criticism, Georgian Dream has insisted the new rules are needed to protect the country’s sovereignty. Parliamentarians are expected to vote in favor of the bill at a second reading Wednesday.
In a bombastic speech at a rally outside the parliament on Monday night, prominent oligarch and former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili railed against Western-backed NGOs, claiming a “global war party” was responsible for the war in Ukraine, and vowed to punish his “criminal and treasonous” political rivals after elections in October.
“I promise that having overcome these difficulties, with sovereignty and dignity intact, in 2030, Georgia will join the EU,” he insisted.