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EXPLAINER-What is Georgia's 'foreign agents' costs and why does it matter?

Georgia's parliament got rid of a presidential veto of a controversial costs on foreign. agents on Tuesday, setting the phase for the speaker to sign it. into law in coming days in the most recent chapter of a political. crisis that has actually roiled the South Caucasus nation.

Here's what you require to know about the law, the reaction to. it in the West and Russia, and why it matters.

WHAT IS THE 'FOREIGN REPRESENTATIVES' EXPENSE AND WHO CALLED FOR IT? The Law on Openness of Foreign Impact will need all. organisations getting more than 20% of their financing from. abroad to register as representatives of foreign impact, with fines. for those who do not obey.

The ruling Georgian Dream party promoted the bill, which it. states is designed on the U.S.'s Foreign Agents Registration Act. and is required to promote transparency and combat pseudo-liberal. values imposed by immigrants.

WHO OPPOSES THE EXPENSE AND WHY?

Georgia's opposition has actually called it the Russian law,. comparing it to legislation that Vladimir Putin's Kremlin has. utilized to crack down on political opponents and silence dissent. Georgian critics state the bill becomes part of a wider authoritarian. trend by Georgian Dream, which has actually passed legislation to assert. its control of the electoral commission and has proposed. sweeping limitations on LGBT rights ahead of elections due by. October.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED AT THE PROTESTS? Led largely by Georgia's pro-EU Generation Z, the. demonstrations are a few of the biggest seen given that Tbilisi gained. independence from Moscow in 1991. They have actually been met with water. cannon, stun grenades and tear gas from cops, and dozens have. been apprehended or hospitalised. A number of Georgian opposition. figures have reported being beaten or bugged by unknown gangs. Authorities have denied claims of extreme force.

WHAT DO RUSSIA AND THE WEST SAY?

The United States, Britain and EU nations all have actually cautioned. Georgia against passing the bill, which the EU says is. incompatible with its worths. Georgia got EU candidate. status in December, but the EU has actually said Tbilisi should make. progress with reforms before it can join the bloc.

Georgia has actually generally proven to be one of the most. staunchly pro-Western nations in the previous Soviet Union, however. the expense stands to threaten its strong ties with the U.S., a. major help donor. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated. last week that Washington was introducing a review of cooperation. with Georgia and imposing visa restrictions on people. responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in. Georgia, along with their member of the family. Georgian Dream. knocked Washington's relocation, stating it totals up to risks and. blackmail versus Tbilisi and a gross attempt to restrict. Georgia's independence and sovereignty.

Russia says it desires stability and predictability in. Georgia but has actually denied it exerted pressure on its neighbour to. pursue the legislation. Moscow last week signed up with Tbilisi in. accusing the U.S. of blackmail and intimidation over the visa. restriction.

WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR GEORGIA?

Georgia, a country of 3.7 million people which up until 1991. was ruled from Moscow as part of the Soviet Union, stands at a. crossroads in its international relations. Domestic critics state. the bill will drag the nation into Moscow's orbit at a time. when polls show the vast bulk of Georgians want to sign up with the. EU.

Russia is deeply undesirable in Georgia for supporting the. breakaway areas of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, over which. Moscow combated and won a short war with Tbilisi in 2008. Georgia's federal government has declined to impose sanctions on Moscow. over the war in Ukraine, angering Georgia's mainly. pro-Ukrainian public.

WHY DOES IT MATTER TO THE REMAINDER OF THE WORLD?

Georgia inhabits a strategic position next to Russia,. Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan in a region criss-crossed by oil. and gas pipelines and bordering the Black Sea. Like Ukraine, it. has discovered itself captured between Russia and the West considering that the. collapse of the Soviet Union. Both Georgia and Ukraine have been. guaranteed eventual NATO subscription. The West has an important. stake in whether Georgia returns to Moscow's orbit or shakes off. Russian influence - and whether that can be done without. setting off further dispute.