The law on "foreign agents" poses a threat to the country's European integration, protesters say.
In Tbilisi, a mass protest against the law on "foreign agents" was adopted by parliament in the first reading (a similar one is in force in Russia).
As SOVA and Georgia Online write, on Wednesday, March 7, opponents of the draft law on "foreign agents" that could restrict the freedom of non-governmental organizations in the country gathered near the building of the Georgian parliament. Special Forces were sent to the streets.
The protesters call the said law "Russian" and one that threatens the country's European integration. They call to prevent its adoption.
The protesters under the parliament building unfurled EU flags and chanted, "No to the Russian law." Their attempts to approach the entrances to the parliament building led to clashes with law enforcement officers.
The security forces called on the protesters near the parliament to disperse, after which they began to disperse them using tear gas. After the tear gas, the Georgian Interior Ministry also used water cannons. This happened on the streets of Chichinadze and Chitadze, located next to the parliament.
Subsequently, the department stated that the reason for the violence against the protesters was alleged that the action had become violent.