Another night of violence has unfolded in Georgia as police have fired tear gas and stun grenades at protesters opposing a so-called “Russian law”.
The “foreign agents” bill would require organisations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence.
Georgian critics say the bill is inspired by laws used to suppress dissent in Russia.
It’s been opposed by many civilians, who are opposed to Russia following Vladimir Putin’s brief war on their country in 2008.
Despite this, Georgia‘s parliament passed the bill to a second reading on Wednesday afternoon.
Ever-growing protests have taken place on the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, almost nightly for a month, and on Wednesday evening, a heaving crowd of tens of thousands shut down the city centre in the largest anti-government demonstration yet.
Image: Protesters have gathered in the capital almost every night for a month. Pic: AP
Image: Police use tear gas against demonstrators. Pic: AP
Image: An injured demonstrator gets a first aid near the Parliament building in Tbilisi. Pic: AP Photo
Police officers cleared a crowd near the parliament building by using tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons.
Protesters regrouped, with some lighting a bonfire while others attempted to barricade key roads. An eyewitness saw at least one man carried away with his face bloodied.
Earlier in the day, scuffles also took place during Georgia’s often-rowdy parliament as one pro-government deputy threw a book at an opposition legislator as others physically confronted each other.
Levan Khabeishvili, leader of Georgia’s largest opposition bloc, spoke with his face heavily bandaged. He said he had broken facial bones and was missing four teeth after being beaten by police at the previous day’s protest.
He previously posted a picture of his injuries on social media:
X
This content is provided by X, which may be using cookies and other technologies.
To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies.
You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable X cookies or to allow those cookies just once.
You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options.
Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to X cookies.
To view this content you can use the button below to allow X cookies for this session only.
Georgia has both a president and a prime minister, and the former has hit out at the latter and his ruling party, warning them: “The issue at stake is much larger than this bill.”
President Salome Zourabichvili told Sky News the battle “against Russian domination” is “a long fight that Georgia has until now won many times”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
4:47
Why are there protests in Georgia?
“The young part of the population… doesn’t want to fold back under Russian influence,” she said. “What is very profound, and what is not accept[ed] by the entire Georgia population, is what has been said by the Georgian ruling party, which is declaring that the West are enemies and agents.”
“What is at hand, is the existential choice that Georgia will have to make by the time of the elections – Europe or Russia?”
Follow Sky News on WhatsApp
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
A second man has been arrested on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter in connection with the death of Gogglebox's George Gilbey.Essex Police said the 36-year-old suspect, from Witham, remains in custody and inquiries are ongoing.The force previously arrested a 47-year-old man on suspicion of gross negligence manslaughter. He was subsequently released under investigation.A joint investigation by police and the Health and Safety Executive is ongoing.Mr Gilbey, of Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, sustained traumatic […]
Post comments (0)