Georgians united in historic protests against controversial 'Foreign Agent' bill

On Saturday, residents of Tbilisi took to the streets to protest the "foreign agent" bill, which was modelled on legislation enacted in Russia. It was the largest demonstration in modern Georgian history and lasted all weekend.

As reported on the Newsgeorgia portal, police used force early on Monday to push back protesters from the entrances to the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi.

In the footage, police can be seen beating protesters against the enacted law on so-called foreign agents, including a man who is already on the ground. About 20 people were detained, including foreigners.

The last demonstration lasted all night from Sunday to Monday, and - as witnesses and participants confirm, as well as the recordings show - it was peaceful. Early in the morning, in front of the parliament, police forces began to form ranks and asked the protesters to disperse so the parliamentarians could enter the building. Then, the operation to "clear" the area in front of the building began.

The overnight protest was another phase of the ongoing protest against the draft law on the transparency of foreign influences, which has been ongoing for over a month. On Monday, the parliament's legal affairs committee will discuss the bill at its third reading. According to the prime minister's announcement on Sunday, the final vote on the project in its third reading is set to take place later this week.

The Georgian draft is based on the first, relatively "mild" version of Russian law, which was later tightened. Hence, it is also called the "Russian law" or the "foreign agents" law. It stipulates that legal entities and media receiving more than 20 percent of their funds from abroad will be subject to mandatory registration and reporting and will be entered into a special register of foreign influence agents. The Georgian Ministry of Justice will be able to conduct inspections of such organizations on any pretext.

According to the authorities' opponents, the law could, as in Russia, be used to destroy the opposition and independent media. Both the opposition and participants in mass protests believe that the law contradicts Georgia's aspirations to the EU.

On May 1, despite ongoing massive protests for nearly a month, the Georgian parliament, controlled by the Georgian Dream party, voted the law on the transparency of foreign influences at its second reading.

Representatives of the USA and EU expressed concern over the law's resumption and appealed to the Georgian authorities to back down from the project. They point out, among other things, that it contradicts Georgia's European aspirations and the process of Euro-integration. Georgia received candidate status for the EU in December 2023. According to surveys, about 80 percent of Georgians support joining the Union.

Although Georgians once again took to the streets in large numbers (last year, the processing of the law was abandoned after protests), Georgian Dream insists that it will not give in, calling critical remarks and appeals from the USA, EU, or international organizations of "outside interference".

On Sunday, Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze declared that the project would be voted on because "it is supported by the majority of Georgians," as confirmed by a survey conducted by the authorities.

After the third reading, the law will be signed by President Salome Zurabiszwili. The head of state has already announced a veto, arguing that the law contradicts Georgia's pro-European path. However, the ruling party needed a parliamentary majority to override the presidential veto.

During the protests, the police repeatedly used unique means – water cannons, pepper spray, and tear gas.