Georgian protesters rally in Tbilisi after violent clashes with police
- In angry clashes on Tuesday and Wednesday, protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police, who used tear gas and water cannon to dispel crowds
- Thousands are rallying against legislation that requires organisations receiving more than 20 per cent funding from abroad to register as ‘foreign agents’
Thousands of people staged a second straight day of large-scale protests in Tbilisi, Georgia’s capital, on Wednesday, rallying against a “foreign agents” law which critics say signals an authoritarian shift that harms the country’s chances of closer ties with Europe.
Georgia’s parliament on Tuesday passed a first reading of the legislation, which requires any organisations receiving more than 20 per cent of their funding from overseas to register as “foreign agents” or face substantial fines.
The ruling Georgian Dream party say it is modelled on US legislation dating from the 1930s. Critics, including Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, say it is reminiscent of a Russian law that the Kremlin has used to crack down on dissent. Georgia was once part of the Soviet Union.
In violent clashes on Tuesday evening, protesters threw petrol bombs and stones at police, who used tear gas and water cannon to dispel the crowds. The interior ministry said 66 people had been detained.
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Georgian police and protesters clash after parliament passes draft ‘foreign agents’ bill
Protests kicked off again on Wednesday afternoon with a march to mark International Women’s Day, which is a public holiday in Georgia. Protesters carried Georgian and EU flags down the central Rustaveli Avenue towards parliament, shouting “No to the Russian law.”
Opposition parties called for a second night of mass protests outside parliament.
