Tension is increasing in Georgia against the backdrop of the parliamentary process that should lead to the approval of the controversial law on “foreign interference”, inspired by a similar measure that has been used in Russia for years to repress dissent.
Police arrested 63 people during a protest against the “foreign agents” law in Tbilisi and six police officers were injured, Georgia’s Interior Ministry said, citing Deputy Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze. Georgian security forces used water cannons, tear gas and grenades against protesters outside parliament late on Tuesday, escalating a crackdown on peaceful and pro-European protesters after lawmakers debated a law on “foreign agents” , considered by the opposition and Western countries as authoritarian and Russian-inspired.
Thousands of people are also protesting this morning in front of the Parliament building in Tbilisi, despite attempts by the police last night to disperse them using water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades. According to local media, protesters have erected barricades in the area. In yet another protest against the law which would distance Georgia from its path of European integration, last night the police arrested 63 people, including Levan Khabeishvili, leader of the opposition party United National Movement (UNM). The politician, currently hospitalized where he underwent surgery, reported having been beaten by the officers; local TV showed his disfigured face.
Participants in the protest, which is taking place for the third week in a row, gathered last night in front of Parliament to reject the bill on “foreign influence”, promoted by the ruling Georgian Dream party and considered contrary to human rights. The European Commission has already warned that the legislative initiative jeopardizes Georgia’s aspirations to become a member of the bloc. In December, the EU granted the country official candidate status for membership, but warned that it would have to reform its judicial and electoral systems, strengthen press freedom and limit the power of oligarchs before it could officially start the negotiations. The Georgian Dream party has been trying to pass the text since April 9, after an attempt already advanced in the spring of 2023 and derailed due to massive street protests. Critics of the project say the text is inspired by Russia’s “foreign agents” law, which is used to silence dissent. Yesterday, Georgian deputies examined the document in its second reading and the ruling party hopes to approve it by mid-May. The protest, despite the repression, does not stop and seems to be spreading: other demonstrations took place in Batumi, the country’s second city, and in Kutaisi, as reported by the independent newspaper Formula TV. Today, representatives of civil society organizations and political parties in Batumi announced that they will travel to the capital to join demonstrations in the capital.