At least 66 protesters were arrested last night during violent protests that erupted outside the Georgian Parliament following the first reading approval of a controversial law on foreign agents, the country’s Interior Ministry reports.
Thousands of people had taken to the streets to protest a bill that seeks create a ‘blacklist’ of organizations, media and entities that generally receive funding from foreign countries, a measure that many have criticized as “Russian-style” legislation that will end up undermining the fundamental freedoms of citizens.
“66 people were arrested for contempt of the Police and hooliganism,” says the official note. According to the Department of the Interior, fifty law enforcement officers suffered injuries of varying severity in the clashes with protesters.
The authorities denounce that the participants in the protest, which lasted until dawnr, they threw stones at the policementried to cause physical harm and burned cars, among other violent acts.
For this reason, according to the Interior, it was decided to use a “proportionate” response. Despite criticism within the country, in the United States and in the European Union, 76 Georgian parliamentarians on Tuesday supported the bill on foreign agents, while thirteen voted against it.
Subsequently, several hundred demonstrators equipped with stones, bottles and sticksThey tried to enter the building located in the central Rustaveli Avenue of Tbilisi. According to opponents, some of whom carried the Georgian and European Union flags yesterday, the law approved at first reading is “anti-democratic.”
The protesters also shouted against Russian President Vladimir Putin and accused deputies from the ruling Georgian Dream party of being “Putin’s slaves.” From the United States, the Georgian president, Salomé Zurabishvili, publicly expressed her support for the protests.
“I am addressing you, who are on Rustaveli Avenue. Today I am in New York and before me is the Statue of Liberty. She is a symbol for what Georgia has always fought for. I am with you, since today you represent a free Georgia,” he said.
In statements to television, he stressed that the law “was drafted under the dictates of Moscow”, for which reason “the project should be withdrawn”. The president of the Georgian Dream, Irakli Kobijadze, affirmed after the protests that the controversial project has already been sent to the Venice Commission and its discussion will continue only after there is a verdict.
The day before, the president of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, assured that the response of the Venice Commission could arrive “In about three months.” However, the Georgian opponents intend to resume their protest actions in front of Parliament this Wednesday.
Source: Lasexta
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