Tens of thousands march in Georgia’s Tbilisi against foreign agents bill

In the Georgian capital Tbilisi, police and protesters clashed during demonstrations against the draft law on ‘transparency of foreign influence’. Tbilisi police detained several protesters

Demonstrations are underway in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, against the draft law on the “transparency of foreign influence” submitted to the parliament last April by the ruling Georgian Dream Party.

The demonstrators, who remained around the Parliament building late last night until this morning, chanting slogans against the bill, carried Georgian and European Union (EU) flags.

The demonstrators attempted to prevent the entry of deputies participating in today’s Legal Committee session for the draft law, which has already received two parliamentary approvals, into the Parliament building.

Security forces, who took extensive measures in the streets and avenues around the parliament building, called on demonstrators this morning to “open the entrances to the building.”

Police and protesters clashed

Although the police opened the entrances to the building in the area where special forces were present, there were several clashes between demonstrators and security forces.

MPs supporting the draft law also entered the parliament after the police cleared the way and joined the Legal Committee where the bill is being discussed.

Parliament will vote on the government’s draft law on the “transparency of foreign influence” tomorrow.

20 people arrested

A statement released by the Georgian Interior Ministry reported that 20 people were detained during the clashes during the Tbilisi demonstrations this morning.

The statement said that one of the detainees was a Russian citizen, and two were U.S. citizens.

In Georgia, protests against the draft law on the “transparency of foreign influence” have been ongoing for about a month.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, in his speech on the ratification process of the draft law, stated that some demonstrators were planning violent protests for today and tomorrow.

Noting that Georgia is a sovereign and independent state, Kobakhidze emphasized the police would respond to acts of violence.

Source: AA