The approval of the draft law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence” in the vote held in the evening in the Georgian Parliament caused demonstrations in the capital Tbilisi.
Many demonstrators gathered in front of and around the parliament building, reacting to the approval of the bill submitted by the opposition “People’s Power” Party.
Leaders of the main opposition United National Movement and other opposition parties participating in the demonstration argue that the law in question is anti-democratic.
Demonstrators and representatives of opposition parties participating in the demonstration state that the bill, which received the majority of votes in the parliament today, is in fact similar to the Russian version of the “Law on Foreign Agents”.
The demonstrators were intervened with tear gas and pressurized water.
In a written statement from the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, it was stated that the demonstrators gathered around the parliament were trying to illegally close an entrance to the building.
In the statement, which stated that the demonstration started to turn into an act of “violence”, it was noted that the security forces would have to resort to legal means.
Despite the statement made by the ministry, when the demonstration continued, the security forces deployed around the parliament building intervened with tear gas and water cannon against the demonstrators.
The demonstrators left the parliament and marched towards the Republic Square in Tbilisi.
Several demonstrators were detained during the demonstration.
In the Georgian Parliament, the draft law on intelligence activities of foreign countries caused fights among deputies during the talks on 3 and 6 March.