Activists, despite the use of various special means by law enforcement officers, promised to resume protests in the capital of Georgia on the afternoon of March 8.
On the central avenue. Shota Rustaveli in the center of Tbilisi ended with a protest action caused by the adoption of the law on “foreign agents”. The police and special forces left the territory and took away the water cannons. This was reported on March 8 by the Interpressnews news agency.
“Participants of the rally are leaving the territory adjacent to the parliament. Employees of public utilities have arrived at the scene,” the message says.
The next protest action, according to the protesters, is scheduled for 15:00 on March 8.
The Parliament of Georgia adopted in the first reading the draft law “On Transparency of Financing of External Influence”, also known as the “Foreign Agents Law”. Subsequently, thousands of demonstrators gathered around the parliament building, but it was not possible to block the gates of the parliament, and representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party were able to leave the premises. Special forces fired tear gas and a water cannon.
Recall that the protesters in the Georgian capital were pushed back from the parliament, many were detained. Citizens had to hide in the alleys, someone tried to find shelter in the church premises.
Earlier, Focus reported that the United States promised to prosecute those involved in the suppression of protests. The European Union, in turn, criticized the “law on foreign agents” that was adopted in the Georgian parliament. American diplomats in Tbilisi called the bill and the use of force against the protesters “a black day for Georgian democracy.” The embassy explained that such a law would harm Georgia’s relations with strategic partners.
