Russia advises its citizens to refrain from traveling to Georgia

The Ministry of Economic Development of the Russian Federation has advised the country’s  citizens to refrain from traveling to Georgia amid the protests related to the controversial foreign agents bill. 

 

“Those who are already in Georgia are advised to avoid crowded places, in the historical, central districts of Batumi and Tbilisi”, the statement said. 

 

The ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday said it was withdrawing a bill that envisages the registration of domestic NGOs and media organizations as foreign agents if they received more than 20 percent of their incomes from abroad. 

 

Demonstrators called the bill a “Russian law” that could restrict the activities of various NGOs funded from the west. 

 

Rallies continued despite the ruling party announcement, with demonstrators urging the authorities to reject the bill in line with mandatory procedures. 

 

The bill will be voted on with its second reading today, as announced by the ruling party, and rejected, following its approval with its first reading earlier this week.