Gen Z step up to oppose the push for 'Russian law'

The finale of Beethoven's "revolutionary" fifth symphony was met with deafening applause at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Tbilisi last Thursday night.

- Natia Koberidze

The cheers grew into a powerful expression of solidarity with the protests outside. People hung EU flags from the theatre's balconies and shouted: "No to the Russian law! Europe! Georgia!"

They were responding to the Georgian parliament's decision the previous day to push ahead with a second reading for a controversial bill that would oblige NGOs, civil rights groups and media organisations to register as "foreign agents" if more than 20% of their funding comes from abroad.

Protesters say the law is inspired by Russian authoritarian legislation and could be used to crush opposition ahead of an election later this year. The ruling party, Georgian Dream (GD), says the "foreign influence" law is needed to "boost transparency".