Gathering before Parliament in Georgia, police use tear gas against protesters

Eyewitnesses in the capital of the former Soviet country, Tbilisi, saw police make arrests along the main road passing through the city's centre, Rustali.

Hours earlier, police had clashed with demonstrators, some of whom dropped bombs of gasoline and stones. The crowd then gathered outside parliament, where some people removed the light metal barriers that had been decided not to allow the public to approach the building.

The interior ministry said through a statement that there were hurt by both sides after what it called an extremely violent protest, and said police would take measures to violate the law.

The protests erupted after lawmakers gave their initial support for the bill, which critics say represents an authoritarian twist and could undermine the country's bid to join the European Union.

Speaking in Berlin earlier Tuesday, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Garibashvili reaffirmed his support for the bill, saying the proposed provisions for foreign agents fulfilled the European and global “standards”.

But European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the bill was a “development very negative” for the country and could seriously affect the country's relations with the EU.

Thousands of people, some of whom waved the flags of the EU and Ukraine, gathered before Parliament to hear critics denouncing the bill, under which any organisation that receives more than 20% of the outside financing should register as foreign “agent”, or face considerable fines.

Critics say it has been similar to a 2012 law in Russia since then used to crack down on dissidents.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who has said she will veto the law if she comes over to her table, said she is on the side of the protesters.

“You represent a free Georgia, a Georgia that sees its future in the West and will not allow anyone to take this future,” said in a speech recorded in the United States, where it is located for an official visit.

Tuesday evening, protesters lashed out at police, who later used tear gas and water to disperse them.

Some shouted: “

Russia is seen as an enemy country by many Georgians, as Moscow supported separatists in Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia in the 1990s.

State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States is deeply concerned about this bill that “would violate some of the rights that are essential for Georgia's people's aspirations”. / VOA