U.S. sounds alarm as thousands in Georgia's capital protest 'Kremlin-style' foreign influence bill

• In fresh scenes of violence over the proposed foreign agents bill, hundreds of masked police officers clashed with protesters outside Georgia's Parliament in Tbilisi as some demonstrators sought to block off lawmaker access to the building.
• The legislation calls for media outlets, nonprofits and other nongovernmental organizations to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.
• White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan said over the weekend that the U.S. was "deeply alarmed" about democratic backsliding in Georgia.

Thousands of people took to the streets of Georgia's capital on Monday as part of a last-ditch attempt to prevent the country's government from passing a controversial "Kremlin-style" law on foreign influence.

In fresh scenes of violence over the proposed bill, hundreds of masked police officers clashed with protesters outside Georgia's Parliament in Tbilisi as some demonstrators sought to block off lawmaker access to the building.

Georgia's Interior Ministry said Monday that two American citizens and one Russian national were among 20 people detained at the rally.

Separately, Georgia's Special Investigation Service said it had launched a probe into the alleged used of "excessive force" by law enforcement officers against protesters. Security officers have since pulled out of the main square.

The foreign influence bill calls for media outlets, nonprofits and other nongovernmental organizations to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

Russia, which occupies about 20% of Georgia's internationally recognized territory, has used similar legislation to crack