Georgia presses on with Putin-style foreign agent bill despite huge protests [Video]

Georgia’s government is attempting to force through a controversial “foreign agent” law, despite international condemnation and huge protests from its citizens.

The bill is seen as a test of whether the nation, a former Soviet state, will forge closer ties with Europe and the United States, or remain within Russia’s orbit.

Critics of the law say is it is a Kremlin-inspired effort to undermine democracy which will damage Georgia’s bid to join the European Union.

Thousands of people demonstrated outside the country’s parliament in the capital Tbilisi on Wednesday after the government passed the draft bill on its first reading – the first of three hurdles it will have to clear before becoming law.

The ruling Georgian Dream party first tried to pass the bill 13 months ago, but was forced into an embarrassing climbdown following a week of intense protests. But, after reintroducing the legislation earlier this month, many fear the government will this time be determined to see it …