TBILISI, Georgia: Thousands of Georgians demonstrated on Friday in fresh rallies against a controversial government-sponsored “foreign influence” bill believing that the Russia’s repressive laws were still being used for their repression.
Mass protests in the Caucasus country have continued for nearly a month since the ruling Georgian Dream party introduced the bill, but the turnout was smaller than the previous demonstrations on Friday, which drew tens of thousands of people.
Police resorted to force on Wednesday, including the use of tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse the gathering. The interior ministry said police arrested one person on Friday and 23 others the day before.
On Friday, demonstrators gathered in front of Tbilisi’s Paragraph hotel belonging to the company of pro-Kremlin oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili where an Asian Development Bank meeting was being held with government officials in attendance.
Demonstrators then marched towards the headquarters of the Georgian Dream Party chanting the slogans “We will not tire”, “Georgia will win” and “No to the Russian government”.
The bill, which was approved by the parliament on Wednesday, drew criticism from the European Union, the United Nations and the United States.
If passed, the law would require independent NGOs and news organizations that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as organizations that seek the interests of foreign powers.
Georgia Dream defended the bill, saying it would increase transparency about NGO funding abroad.
Critics say it is a code of Russian law used to suppress dissent and keep Georgia out of the EU. According to polls, the European Union’s action has broad public support.
