Georgia’s “foreign influence” bill forces thousands of protests into streets
- 1 May, 11:22
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Georgian capital Tbilisi as the parliament approved the second reading of the controversial “foreign influence” bill.
The parliament on Wednesday adopted the controversial bill advanced by the ruling Georgia Dream party. The bill is set to be signed into law by mid-May.
Following the arrest of numerous protesters overnight, the Georgian parliament is set to vote on a contentious bill. Large-scale demonstrations have taken place in recent days, urging the rejection of the bill, which critics argue could stifle dissent and jeopardize Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union.
Security forces deployed water cannons, tear gas, and stun grenades against thousands of protesters who gathered outside parliament in Tbilisi on Tuesday night. According to Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, 63 protesters were arrested and six police officers were injured. Media reports indicate that several demonstrators also sustained injuries.
The EU’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, denounced the violence against protesters. He highlighted Georgia’s status as an EU candidate country and emphasized the necessity of upholding the right to peaceful assembly. “The use of force to suppress it is unacceptable,” Borrell stated in a social media post on Wednesday.
The Georgian Interior Ministry maintains that police employed “legitimate force” only after the protest became violent and demonstrators engaged in verbal and physical confrontations with law enforcement.
