Protesters surrounded the parliament building and attempted to break through the metal fences, approaching the parliament gates. Law enforcement used water cannons and tear gas to chase them away. After that, special forces began to disperse the rally, now the protesters have been kicked out of the building’s service entrances.
Formerly agency RIA News reports that the opposition has issued an ultimatum to the authorities, in which it demands that the foreign agents bill be withdrawn from parliament and that the protesters detained the day before be released. Otherwise, the demonstrators threaten not to let the deputies enter the plenary session, which is to be held on Thursday.
On Tuesday evening, the Georgian parliament passed the first reading of the law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”. According to her, there are plans to create a list of organizations, including media, which receive more than 20% funding from abroad.
On the morning of March 7, thousands of people took part in a rally outside the parliament building on Rustaveli Avenue, which turned into clashes with special forces in the evening. Police used tear gas and water cannons, and Molotov cocktails were reported by protesters.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili supported the protesters by recording a video message in front of the Statue of Liberty in New York, where she is on an official visit. She said she would veto the law if it passed.
The new law also faced opposition from opposition politicians and representatives from Western countries. According to them, this will jeopardize the democratic processes in Georgia. It should also be noted that the adoption of this law could prevent Tbilisi from obtaining the status of a candidate member of the European Union.