Thousands of people rallied on Sunday evening in Georgia's capital, demanding the government withdraw a controversial 'foreign influence' bill. The EU has warned that the bill would undermine Tbilisi's European aspirations.
Mass anti-government rallies have erupted across the Black Sea Caucasus nation since mid-April after the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced plans to pass a law that critics claim is similar to Russian legislation used to silence dissent.
According to an AFP estimate, at least 20,000 people attended Tbilisi's central Republic Square event. The kilometer-long procession with a huge EU flag at its head stretched out towards the parliament along Tbilisi's main street.
"I am here to protect Georgia's European future," 19-year-old Lasha Chkheidze said. "No to Russia, no to the Russian law, yes to Europe."
The rally was organized by around 100 Georgian rights groups and opposition parties, who have maintained a low profile in the youth-dominated daily protests.
In a statement, the organizers said that the authorities, which have reintroduced the Russian bill, are going beyond the constitutional framework and changing the country's orientation, betraying the unwavering will of the people.
An AFP journalist saw protesters try to breach a police barrier outside the parliament building during the peaceful gathering to hoist an EU flag there. Police used pepper spray without warning.
The interior ministry said that the protest turned violent and that demonstrators physically and verbally confronted law enforcement.
Hundreds of riot police had been stationed there after midnight. The ruling party of Georgia announced its rally on Monday, the day a parliamentary committee is scheduled to have a second reading of the bill, in response to several days of anti-government demonstrations.
If adopted, the law would mandate that each independent NGO and media outlet that obtains above 20% of its money from foreign sources register as an "organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power."
Furthermore, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, a bitter opponent of the ruling party, has declared she will veto the legislation.
