Travelers should exercise increased caution in Georgia from May 2024 onward due to an increased frequency of demonstrations relating to the country’s new foreign agent bill.
In May 2024, Georgia’s parliament passed a controversial foreign agent bill requiring organizations receiving over 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. As a result, such organizations are subject to additional scrutiny from the Georgian government via targeted legislation and additional auditing/reporting of operations. This legislation received backlash, with opposition arguing that it stifles freedom of speech and is similar to suppressive Russian laws. Protests have since erupted with demonstrators clashing with police, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse crowds. SafeAbroad analysts assess that this has created an unsafe environment for travelers, especially in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi where protests are more frequent and intense.
