police crack down on protests in Georgia

[Pelican Press 0]

police ****** down on protests in Georgia

Protestors clash with the police as they block the exists of the parliament building to prevent the ruling Georgian Dream Party’s deputies from leaving within a protest against the bill on ‘Transparency of Foreign Influence,’ in Tbilisi, Georgia on April 30, 2024. (Photo by Davit Kachkachishvili/Anadolu via Getty Images)

Davit Kachkachishvili | Anadolu | Getty Images

Tear gas, stun grenades and water cannons were reportedly used by riot police against protesters in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi as demonstrations over a so-called “foreign agent” bill escalated.

Clashes lasted until late into Tuesday night, with police trying to disperse protesters which the Georgian internal ministry

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were breaking demonstration laws by blocking entrances and exits to the country’s parliament. Sixty-three people were arrested, the ministry

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.

“Totally unwarranted, unprovoked and out of proportion use of force ongoing in Tbilisi against peaceful protesters,” Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili said in a

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on social media platform X.

The bill would force non-governmental organizations, campaign groups and media platforms who receive at least 20% of funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents.” They would also be under close scrutiny by Georgia’s justice ministry and be made to share sensitive details with authorities, or be faced with large fines.

Law enforcement officers detain a protester during a rally against a controversial “foreign influence” bill, which Brussels warns would undermine Georgia’s ********* aspirations, near the parliament in Tbilisi on April 30, 2024.

Giorgi Arjevanidze | Afp | Getty Images

Police use tear gas to disperse protesters near the Georgian parliament during a rally against a controversial “foreign influence” bill, which Brussels warns would undermine Georgia’s ********* aspirations, in Tbilisi on April 30, 2024.

Giorgi Arjevanidze | Afp | Getty Images

Demonstrators face law enforcement officers during a rally against a controversial “foreign influence” bill, which Brussels warns would undermine Georgia’s ********* aspirations, in Tbilisi on April 30, 2024.

Giorgi Arjevanidze | Afp | Getty Images

The ruling Georgia Dream party proposed the bill, and members of parliament gave their initial sign off earlier this month. Another vote is expected on Wednesday.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused NGOs of trying to launch revolutions and spread *********** in the country, while Georgia Dream’s founder Bidzina Ivanishvili on Monday said foreign funding for NGOs was a way to strengthen intelligence agencies,

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. They argue that the bill would boost transparency.

The bill’s opponents, including Georgia’s President Zourabichvili, say it would obstruct media freedom, and push the country away from the ********* Union and closer to Russia.

Georgia became an EU candidate country in late 2023, however member countries voted

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while the “foreign agent” bill is under consideration. The U.S. has also been critical, with the

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saying it was “incredibly troubling” and “akin to the kinds of legislation that we see in the Kremlin.”

********* Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell on Wednesday said using force to suppress the right to assemble peacefully is “unacceptable.”

“I strongly condemn the ********* against protesters in Georgia who were peacefully demonstrating against the law on foreign influence. Georgia is an EU candidate country, I call on its authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly. Use of force to suppress it is unacceptable,” he

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Laws,Breaking News: Politics,Politics,Protests and demonstrations,Protest and demonstration events,Tbilisi,Europe,EU,business news
#police #****** #protests #Georgia

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