On the evening of March 7, mass riots took place in Tbilisi, which escalated into clashes with the police.
The reason for the start of protests was the adoption by the parliament of the country of the law on foreign agents in the first reading.
During the voting, the bill was supported by 76 deputies, 13 parliamentarians were against it.
According to the document, it is proposed in Georgia to form a register of non-governmental organizations, media and entities whose income is 20% or more from foreign funding.
The Georgian parliament stated that we are talking about the "Georgian" version of the document, relating only to legal entities.
In the future, deputies will consider an "American" version of the bill, similar in content to the FARA law adopted in the United States in 1938, which provides for the status of a foreign agent for individuals.
Commenting on the parliament's decision, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said on March 7 that it was about strengthening the country's sovereignty.
“I don’t think anyone has the desire to condemn why America has such a law.
Similar laws also apply in other countries.
This is a sovereign decision of each country... We, our authorities, are doing everything to strengthen the sovereignty of our country.
This is our main task - the independence of our country, ”Sputnik Georgia quotes him as saying.
Meanwhile, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said that the adoption of the law on agents of foreign influence in Georgia contradicts the country's desire to join the EU, since the document is "incompatible with the values and standards" of the association.
The US State Department also opposed the bill approved in the first reading.
According to the official representative of the department, Ned Price, Washington may impose sanctions against representatives of the Georgian authorities against the backdrop of the current situation.
At the same time, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who is on a visit to New York, supported the protesters and announced that she would veto the bill on foreign agents approved by parliament.
According to her, the protesters represent "a free Georgia that sees its future in Europe."
After the announcement of the parliament's decision, a protest rally began in Tbilisi, which later escalated into clashes with the police.
Law enforcement agencies used special equipment during the dispersal of the rally, including water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs at that time stated that the protest "went beyond the scope of freedom of expression and peaceful assembly" and took on a violent character.
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According to information released on the morning of March 8 by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of the country, 66 people were detained during the riots.
As emphasized in the department, the protesters used physical force against police officers, including throwing stones and containers with flammable substances at them.
In addition, 50 law enforcement officers were injured during the riots.
As noted in the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, some of the wounded policemen underwent operations, they are still in medical institutions.
Demonstrators were also wounded, but the Georgian Interior Ministry did not specify their number.
In connection with the incidents near the parliament building in Tbilisi, a criminal investigation has been launched into an attack on police officers.
At the same time, according to the department, law enforcement officers used "proportional force" against the protesters.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs promised to study all the circumstances of the protests and respond appropriately.
At the same time, as Giorgi Vashadze, the leader of the opposition Strategy Agmashenebeli party, told journalists, the Georgian police exceeded their powers in dispersing the demonstrators.
“A disproportionate force was used against the peaceful action by the special forces and the police.
A lot of protesters were detained, ”Interfax quotes him as saying.
Levan Khabeishvili, the leader of Georgia's largest opposition party, the United National Movement, said that protests in Tbilisi would continue on the afternoon of March 8.
According to him, the new rally should start at 15:00 local time (14:00 Moscow time).