The Georgian parliament on Monday began the process of passing a controversial law aimed at curbing foreign influence on the country despite mass protests.
According to media reports, the Justice Committee took just under two minutes to wave the bill through the third and final reading. The final vote in plenary with all lawmakers is scheduled for Tuesday.
The governing majority of the Georgian Dream party say they wish to create more transparency in the foreign funding of non-governmental organizations (NGO).
However, tens of thousands in the former Soviet state have joined protests in the capital Tbilisi against the legislation for weeks.
On Monday morning, before the session began, the police used force to disperse demonstrators. According to police reports, around 20 people were arrested and the protests continued throughout the day.
Critics have dubbed the planned law the "Russian law" and accuse the government of having modelled it on a Russian "agent" law in order to hinder the work of independent associations and media.
In Russia, numerous organizations and individuals are branded as "foreign agents," a classification that often causes major problems.
The measure is seen as a means of political repression to silence critics, and protesters also see their country's path to European Union membership in danger.
As a first step towards a possible concession, Georgian Dream has indicated that the law could be toned down after President Salome Zourabichvili threatened to veto it.
Opposition parties in the country are calling for the law to be abandoned completely.
