Police Intervene with Demonstrators at Georgia Parliament
Protests in Tbilisi Continue Against Georgian Government’s Bill on “Transparency of Foreign Influence”
Protests in the capital city of Tbilisi, Georgia, have continued into the night as demonstrators gather outside the parliament building to oppose the government’s bill on “transparency of foreign influence.” Thousands of protesters expressed their discontent with the bill’s passing in the second vote, leading to clashes with security forces.
As some demonstrators attempted to surround the parliament building, which was under high security, law enforcement intervened using pepper gas and pressurized water to disperse the crowd. In response, the protesters threw various objects at the police stationed inside the building and even tried to set up a barricade by lighting a fire in front of the main entrance.
In addition to the demonstrations outside the Parliament, activists also blocked several roads in the city to disrupt traffic. Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, condemned the protesters for attempting to enter the parliament without permission and reported that seven police officers were injured in the recent unrest.
The bill on “transparency of foreign influence” proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream Party was passed in the second vote on May 1, with 83 MPs supporting the legislation and 23 voting against. The bill, which aims to increase transparency regarding foreign funding of organizations in Georgia, must go through one more approval in parliament to become law.
The bill defines an “organization that pursues the interests of a foreign power” and mandates that NGOs receiving a significant portion of their funding from abroad register as such. The Prime Minister, Irakli Kobakhidze, emphasized the importance of transparency in the operation of NGOs, echoing the government’s commitment to openness.
This is not the first time the bill has caused controversy in Georgia. Initially introduced in 2023, the legislation faced backlash from the opposition and civil society, leading to widespread protests and parliamentary scuffles. After intense public pressure, the Georgian Dream Party withdrew the bill, only to reintroduce a revised version this year.
The ongoing protests in Tbilisi signal a deepening divide between the government and the people over issues of transparency and foreign influence. As tensions continue to escalate, the future of the bill and its implications for Georgian society remain uncertain.
