According to Salome Zurabishvili, the citizens protesting under the parliament building represent a free Georgia.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili supported the protesters against the draft law on “foreign agents” adopted in an accelerated mode during a parliament session on March 7. This is reported by the Russian edition of “TASS”.
“I appeal to you who are standing this evening on [проспекте] Rustaveli, where I stood more than once. Today I’m standing in New York with the Statue of Liberty behind me. This is a symbol for which Georgia has always fought, for which we have come to this day. I am with you because today you represent free Georgia,” the journalists quoted the president as saying.
Address of the President of Georgia
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Earlier, on February 28, Salome Zurabishvili announced her intention to veto the law on “foreign agents” if it is adopted. According to the president, such initiatives alienate Georgia from Europe.
What’s happening in Tbilisi
On Tuesday, March 7, the Parliament of Georgia adopted a bill on “foreign agents”, which led to a mass protest of citizens, called “No to Russian law in Georgia.”
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia stated that the protest event near the parliament took on a “violent character” and overestimated the possible use of “proportional force”.
According to the “News Georgia” publication, the security forces used tear gas and water cannons against the Georgians who had gathered under the walls of the parliament in Tbilisi.
Tbilisi police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.
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Law on “Foreign Agents” in Georgia
The bill on “foreign agents” was submitted to the Georgian parliament on February 26. The document was created by analogy with Russian law and provides for punishment in the form of imprisonment for its violation.
The adoption of the law on “foreign agents” also entails the creation of a special register of “agents of foreign influence”, which can include organizations and media, 20% of whose income comes from other states.
Earlier, on February 26, it was reported that the law on “foreign agents” could be tightened in Georgia. The deputies of the Power of the People movement intend to introduce prison terms for citizens for violating the norms of the law “On the registration of foreign agents.”
