ISTANBUL

A Georgian parliamentary committee expressed support Monday for a second reading of a controversial bill on “foreign agents” which critics claim will undermine democracy and has triggered major protests in the capital Tbilisi since its first reading was approved.

The parliament's legal affairs committee discussed the draft bill during a session, the country's public broadcaster 1TV reported, saying the discussions resulted in some changes to the second article of the bill, particularly the inclusion of the word "non-commercial" to imply the registration of such organizations and media outlets.

The bill requires organizations, including media outlets, which receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register with the state registry. It also obliges them to publish annual financial reports.

The country's parliament approved the first of three readings required to adopt the bill during a plenary session on April 17. It is expected to vote on the second reading of the bill on Tuesday.

The bill, first introduced in March 2023, was shelved after it triggered mass protests resulting in the arrest of 66 people and the injury of more than 50 law enforcement officers.

Earlier this month, Mamuka Mdinaradze, the parliamentary leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, said they will resubmit the draft legislation on the "transparency of foreign influence" to parliament.

Critics say the bill would undermine democracy and have labeled it as a "Russian law," but members of the ruling majority say it would boost transparency.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili also declared that she would veto the bill. However, Georgian Dream can override the president's veto by collecting 76 votes, after which the country's parliament speaker can sign the bill into law.