The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has announced intentions to stage a rally in Tbilisi in solidarity with the proposed controversial foreign transparency bill, branded as a “Russian law” by domestic actors and the country’s international partners. 

In a statement released by the party, it emphasized that the rally would be in response to the “expressed desires” of its supporters.

"We aim to demonstrate the overwhelming support for the values cherished by the majority of the Georgian populace - truth, authentic European ideals, and our cherished traditional national ethos encompassing heritage, language, and faith," the statement reads. The rally is scheduled for April 29.

The ruling party reintroduced the bill to parliament on April 3, 2024, after its withdrawal 13 months prior in March 2023 amidst widespread protests and international criticism. At that time, the parliamentary majority had pledged to abandon the bill. 

The reintroduction of the bill, which reignited mass protests in Tbilisi, with citizens gathering daily in the city center to oppose its adoption. Both the European Union and the United States have cautioned the Georgian authorities about the potential adverse effects of the law on Georgia's path towards European integration.

The bill successfully passed its first reading on April 17 with the support of 83 MPs, including 73 from Georgian Dream, nine from People's Power, and one from European Socialists. 

The bill calls for the registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “aligned with interests of a foreign power” if they obtain more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. Previously the bill branded the organizations as “foreign agents”.