In the Georgian capital, at a rally against the bill on “foreign agents,” clashes occurred between protesters and police.
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“Echo of the Caucasus” reports that special forces pushed the protesters away from the parliament building, using physical force, pepper gas and a water cannon. There are people injured.
At night, Georgian police tried several times to violently disperse protesters who did not agree with the bill on foreign agents – they used tear gas, water cannons and rubber balls on people.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called on the Minister of Internal Affairs to stop dispersing the peaceful demonstration. There they justify that the action allegedly “went beyond the law, and the protesters did not obey the demands of law enforcement officers.” As of 5:00, the special forces retreated, and people returned to the building of the Georgian Parliament and continued their protest.
During the dispersal of a protest rally in the center of Tbilisi, American lawyer Ted Jonas was beaten. According to the Georgian website Sova, a US citizen experienced physical violence from security forces. Formula TV reported that the man’s teeth were knocked out and his nose was broken.
At the rally in Tbilisi, security forces also brutally beat the head of the largest opposition party in Georgia, the United National Movement, Levan Khabeishvili. In a photograph that appeared in the media, the politician’s face shows signs of severe beatings.
The riot police also used force against other protesters, many of them were beaten. Dozens of demonstrators were injured as a result of the authorities using tear gas. Among those who needed medical care were media employees.
In the morning, police and special forces pushed the protesters away from the Georgian parliament building.
On April 30, the second reading of the controversial bill on “foreign influence” began in the Georgian parliament. In total, it must undergo three readings, the date of the last one being May 17.
Public organizations and opposition parties call the law “Russian” and believe that its goal is to eliminate organizations involved in the development of democracy and block the process of joining the European Union. The EU and the USA speak negatively about the bill.
The Georgian Dream Party says the bill seeks to encourage transparency among non-governmental organizations and the media.
Source: Racurs
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.