Georgian police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse a demonstration after thousands of protesters took to the streets in the capital, Tbilisi, to reject the controversial “foreign agents” law.
A television broadcast showed one of the demonstrators opposed to the bill, which they consider a tool to intimidate the media and non-governmental organizations, throwing a Molotov cocktail at riot police..
The demonstrations came after the initial approval of the Georgian deputies earlier Tuesday on the draft law.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili expressed support for the demonstrators and vowed to reject the law.
“I stand with you because today you represent free Georgia, which sees its future in Europe and will not allow anyone to steal this future,” she said in a video from the United States, where she is visiting.“.
The US embassy in Georgia considered the legislation “inspired by the Kremlin” and said it contradicted Georgia’s desire to join the European Union..
“Today is a black day for democracy in Georgia,” the embassy said in a statement, adding that the legislation raises questions about the ruling party’s “commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration.”“.
