May 13, 2024 – 12:22 pm
Several thousand people demonstrated in front of the Georgian Parliament in Tbilisi in protest against the Foreign Agents Law. Reuters reports. The news agency reported that a total of twenty people were arrested at the demonstration, including two American citizens and a Russian citizen. On Sunday, the Georgian opposition called on opponents of the bill to demonstrate throughout the night in front of Parliament to prevent the entry of representatives on Monday.
Citing witnesses, Russian news agency TASSZ reported that police began removing protesters from service entrances to the Parliament building early Monday morning, in some cases leading to scuffles.
The demonstration, which Reuters said was one of the largest gatherings in Georgia since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, attracted a crowd of about 50,000 people in Tbilisi, news agency Reuters said.
Massive protests have been taking place in the Georgian capital for weeks against the Foreign Agents Law, which, if passed, would require media outlets and NGOs that receive more than 20 percent of their financial resources from abroad to register as foreign agents of influence. Or they will face heavy fines.
According to the ruling Georgia Democratic Dream government party, this measure would increase transparency and protect Georgia's sovereignty. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakidze said on Sunday that the law would be implemented.
