A Russian court on Monday sentenced a French researcher to three years in a penal colony after finding him guilty of breaching a "foreign agent" law. The trial of Laurent Vinatier, who works for a Swiss conflict mediation NGO, comes amid tensions between Russia and the West over the Ukraine war.

Russian court sentences French researcher to 3 years' jail for breaching 'foreign agent' law

Georgia’s parliament on Tuesday (May 28) adopted the highly controversial “foreign agents” legislation, which has sparked weeks of protests and drawn international condemnation after overriding a veto by President Salome Zurabishvili who, among many others has called the law authoritarian and Russian-inspired.

Georgian parliament overrides presidential veto, adopts ‘foreign agents’ law amid protests

A Georgian parliament committee, on Monday (May 27) rejected the president’s veto of the highly controversial “foreign agents” legislation, reported the Associated Press, which was passed by lawmakers over two weeks ago despite massive protests and international criticism.

Georgian parliament rejects presidential veto of ‘foreign agents’ legislation; PM, prez lash out at each other

Georgia’s parliament adopted the highly controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill, on Tuesday (May 14) despite weeks of, often violent, protests, which has been criticised for being similar to Russia’s repressive legislation used to silence dissent.

Georgia adopts controversial ‘foreign agents’ law amid brawls and protests

Water cannons and tear gas were used by the Georgian police against protesters on Tuesday as thousands of them took to the streets in Tbilisi to raise their voices against the controversial "foreign agents" bill.

Water cannon, tear gas | Protesters, police clash in Georgia over 'foreign agents' law