Georgian police fire teargas as huge ‘foreign agents’ bill protests rock Tbilisi – Europe live | Georgia
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Key events
Michael Rothchairman of the foreign affairs committee of the German Bundestag, called on the Georgian leadership to stop the violence and withdraw the foreign agents bill.
dear @PM_Kobakhidze,
???????? Stop the violence against your citizens immediately by demonstrating peacefully in the streets for European values.
???????? Download #Law on Foreign Agents!
???????? Do not destroy the future of Georgia, which is located in the very heart of Europe!
????????????????????
— Michael Roth – official ???????????????????????? (@MiRo_SPD) May 1, 2024
The EU’s foreign policy chief condemns the violence in Georgia “strongly”.
The head of the EU’s foreign policy, Josep Borrellsaid today that it “strongly” condemned violence against protesters and said the use of force was “unacceptable”.
“I categorically condemn the violence against the protesters in Georgia who were peacefully demonstrating against the foreign influence law,” he said.
“Georgia is a candidate country for EU membership, I call on its authorities to guarantee the right to peaceful assembly. The use of force to suppress it is unacceptable,” he added.
I strongly condemn the violence against the protesters in Georgia who were peacefully demonstrating against the foreign influence law. Georgia is a candidate country for the EU, I call on its authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly. The use of force to suppress it is unacceptable
— Josep Borrell Fonteles (@JosepBorrellF) May 1, 2024
IN statementThe Georgian Association of Young Lawyers stated that “peaceful protest is a mechanism for promoting democratic processes in the hands of citizens, and any attempt to suppress it is an unconstitutional act.”
Transparency International Georgia called for an investigation into police behavior during last night’s protests.
“Tonight, April 30, 2024, during a peaceful rally, while citizens were expressing their peaceful protest against the Russian law, the Ministry of Internal Affairs, without any apparent reason and due warning, began to disperse the crowd,” the monitor said in a statement statement.
“The forces of the Ministry of Internal Affairs used disproportionate force. Some protesters were beaten. Police used rubber bullets, tear gas, pepper spray and water cannons. Many protesters were arrested,” the statement said, adding:
“We call on the Ministry of Internal Affairs to stop using force against peaceful protesters and allow them to exercise their freedom of peaceful assembly and expression in a safe environment. We call on the Special Investigation Service to investigate the crimes committed by the police officers.
63 detainees in Georgia protest: ministry
63 people were detained in Georgia during a protest against the bill on “foreign agents” and six police officers were injured, Georgia’s interior ministry said, Reuters reported.
‘Strong concerns’: US official talks to Georgian lawmakers
Jim O’BrienThe US State Department’s assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs said late yesterday that he had “an important conversation with Georgian lawmakers about our bilateral relationship.”
The discussion covered “our strong concerns about the Kremlin-inspired ‘foreign influence’ project and its negative impact on Georgia’s European aspirations,” he said.
An important conversation with Georgian MPs about our bilateral relationship, including our strong concern about the Kremlin-inspired “foreign influence” bill and its negative impact on Georgia’s European aspirations.
— Assistant Secretary Jim O’Brien (@StateEUR) April 30, 2024
Here are photos from recent protests in Tbilisi. Georgian security forces used water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades against protesters outside parliament late yesterday.
‘Heartbroken’: Lithuanian minister says situation in Georgia is like ‘losing a friend’
“I am heartbroken to hear Ivanishvili’s vision for the future of Georgia,” he said Gabrielius LandsbergisForeign Minister of Lithuania.
“I am devastated by this sudden change in relations with countries, including Lithuania, which have been Georgia’s closest allies. We feel like we are losing a friend,” he wrote in a social media post.
“Now we are shocked to see Georgians being dragged into non-freedom by those who themselves are most afraid of freedom. But we know that Georgians, like Lithuanians, are forever freedom-loving and freedom will always flourish,” he added.
It breaks my heart to hear Ivanishvili’s vision for the future of Georgia. I am devastated by this sudden change in relations with countries, including Lithuania, which were Georgia’s closest allies. We feel like we are losing a friend.????
— Gabrielius Landsbergis???????? (@GLandsbergis) April 30, 2024
Tear gas and stun grenades used against Georgian protesters opposing ‘foreign agents’ bill
Georgian security forces were used water cannons, tear gas and stun grenades against protesters outside parliament late Tuesday, sharply escalating the crackdown after lawmakers debated “foreign agents” bill. which is seen by the opposition and Western nations as authoritarian and inspired by Russia.
Reuters witnesses saw some police physically attack protesters – who threw eggs and bottles at them – before using tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades to push the demonstrators out of the area outside the Soviet parliament building.
Thousands of anti-government demonstrators shut down The central streets of Tbilisi every night since Parliament approved the bill at first reading on April 17.
Masked riot police furiously stormed the peaceful rally as they beat and arrested dozens of people protesting the bill. Several journalists were attacked, including an AFP photographer who was beaten with a rubber baton despite being clearly identified as a member of the press, according to the news agency.
Levan Khabeishvili – the chairman of jailed former president Mikheil Saakashvili’s main opposition United National Movement – was badly beaten and had to seek medical attention.
Reuters and Agence France-Presse
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