Dozens of protesters against so-called ‘Russian law’ arrested in Georgia as police crack down

TBILISI – Dozens of other people had been arrested in Georgia after police in the capital used tear gasoline and water cannons to disperse protesters who rallied outdoor Parliament to protest a controversial bill which they argue limits media freedom.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry stated 63 other people have been arrested Tuesday whilst they took phase in an indication in Tbilisi. Levan Khabeishvili, an opposition MP, posted an image of himself on his social media accounts with a bloodied face and heavy bruising. Members of his celebration stated he were assaulted via police.

Those arrested have been collaborating in the newest in a chain of protests against a invoice which will require media and non-commercial organizations to check in as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they get more than 20% of their funding from abroad.

The protesters have denounced it as “the Russian law” as a result of Moscow makes use of equivalent law to stigmatize unbiased news media and organizations vital of the Kremlin.

It is very similar to a invoice that the ruling Georgian Dream celebration proposed after which withdrew under pressure final 12 months after large street protests.

If the bill is adopted, protesters are concerned that it will allow the authorities to more heavily control the media space as well as derailing integration with the EU after Georgia was granted candidate status in December 2023.

“We do not want the Soviet regime that our parents have experienced,” Kato Salukvadze, a protester, told The Associated Press, adding, “I think that everyone should be in the streets and say no to the Russian law and yes to Europe.”

Police moved to get a divorce the protest overdue Tuesday after demonstrators attempted to dam the entrances to Parliament in order to stop lawmakers from leaving.

Georgia’s Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze stated at a briefing Wednesday that the protesters and leaders of the opposition celebration have been “constantly committing violence.” Darakhvelidze alleged that Khabeishvili, the opposition MP, broke thru a police cordon and used to be injured whilst “he resisted.”

Giorgi Vashadze, some other opposition baby-kisser, stated Georgians have the best to non violent protest and that the habits of the ruling celebration and regulation enforcement businesses is “completely illegal.”

Earlier this month, the parliament recommended the invoice on its first studying in spite of the protests. Debate will proceed Wednesday as phase of the invoice’s 2nd studying. It should cross 3 readings prior to it may be followed.

Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili has harshly criticized the invoice and vowed to veto it whether it is handed via parliament. The ruling celebration, on the other hand, can override her veto after which the parliament speaker can signal it into regulation.