Georgians Protest Russia-Inspired ‘Foreign Agents’ Bill |
Thousands of people braved tear gas and water cannons (NYT) to rally in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, yesterday in protest of a bill that would require all organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents.” The bill passed (Politico) an initial congressional vote yesterday and has the backing of the ruling Georgian Dream party. It resembles Russian legislation (Kyiv Independent) that has been used to target civil society groups.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili called the bill “dictated by Moscow” and signaled that it could jeopardize Georgia’s potential accession to the European Union (EU), which it applied to join last year. Polls show that 85 percent of Georgians support EU membership, and some protesters have waved EU flags. Hundreds of them returned today for a fresh round of demonstrations. |
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“A growing number of Georgians fear that their government is moving closer to Moscow under Georgian Dream, which has been in power since 2012. The party’s founder, former chairman and ex-Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, has close ties to Russia, where he built his fortune in the 1990s,” Politico’s Nicolas Camut and Zoya Sheftalovich write.
“The West cannot forget the lessons of [Russia’s 2008 invasion of Georgia]: it must remember the dangers of accommodating [Russian President Vladimir Putin] or another Russian dictator,” the Foreign Policy Research Institute’s Vasil Sikharulidze writes for Foreign Affairs.
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China Criticizes Germany’s Efforts to Ban Huawei, ZTE |
The Chinese embassy in Berlin said it was “puzzled” and dissatisfied (SCMP) by media reports that Germany is considering banning the Chinese telecommunications firms Huawei and ZTE from its 5G networks. This Backgrounder discusses countries’ national security concerns about Huawei.
South Korea: Seoul last year approved export licenses that allowed Poland to send Ukraine artillery weapons built with South Korean parts, a South Korean official told Reuters.
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Sri Lanka Announces Date for Delayed Local Elections |
The elections, originally set to take place tomorrow, are now scheduled for April 25 (Bloomberg). Opposition parties accused the government of purposely delaying the vote to give itself more time to improve the country’s battered economy.
Nepal: To create more jobs, Nepal’s tourism agency will soon require tourists hiking in the Himalayan region to hire local guides (Al Jazeera).
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Middle East and North Africa |
NYT: Secret Talks Aim to Water Down Israel’s Proposed Judicial Overhaul |
A group of lawmakers and legal experts have been meeting (NYT) at the home of Israeli President Isaac Herzog to try to reach a compromise on less-severe versions of reforms that would significantly weaken Israel’s judiciary. The plans have spurred weeks of mass protests.
Israel/Palestinian territories: An Israeli military raid in the West Bank city of Jenin killed six Palestinians (CNN), including the raid’s target, a man suspected of killing two Jewish settlers.
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Congolese Rebels Clash With Security Forces Despite Scheduled Cease-Fire |
For the past two days, fighters from the rebel March 23 Movement (M23) have clashed with soldiers (AFP) in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. A cease-fire was due to take effect yesterday.
Mozambique: Cyclone Freddy is expected to make a rare second landing (AP) in Mozambique this week, UN weather monitors said. The United Nations says the storm is on track to become the longest-lived tropical cyclone on record.
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Reports: Pro-Ukrainian Groups Linked to 2022 Nord Stream Attack |
German prosecutors found evidence (Politico) suggesting Ukrainians were involved in the September 2022 attack on the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, according to multiple German-language media outlets. The New York Times reported that intelligence shown to U.S. officials suggested that a pro-Ukrainian group carried out the attack, though there was no evidence that top Ukrainian officials ordered the operation. Kyiv has denied involvement.
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Two Americans Kidnapped in Mexico Return to U.S., Two Found Dead |
The four Americans were kidnapped by members of a drug cartel while visiting Mexico for cosmetic surgery. Two of the captives were found alive yesterday (AP) and returned to the United States. The cartel had killed the others. This Backgrounder discusses Mexico’s war against drug cartels.
Colombia/Ecuador: The countries launched a joint alert system (Reuters) in an effort to stop attacks on the Awá Indigenous communities living along their shared border. Armed groups in the area have recruited minors, killed civilians, and carried out forced displacements.
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Group of Women Sues State of Texas for Denying Abortions |
Five plaintiffs who were denied abortions are arguing that they should have been exempted (NPR) from Texas’s near-total abortion ban given that they sought the procedure while facing life-threatening medical emergencies. The Texas attorney general’s office said it will continue to enforce the laws of the state.
This article compares abortion laws around the world.
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Council on Foreign Relations |
58 East 68th Street — New York, NY 10065 |
1777 F Street, NW — Washington, DC 20006 |
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