Anti-Riot Police Confront Protesters in Georgia After Controversial Legislation

Parliament's Passage of Foreign Agents Bill Sparks Outrage

Thousands Take to the Streets Demanding Repeal

Georgia erupted in widespread protests as riot police confronted demonstrators opposing a recently passed foreign agents bill. Over 50,000 protesters defied heavy rainfall and marched peacefully through the streets, expressing their vehement dissent against the legislation deemed discriminatory.

The bill, drawing inspiration from Russia's controversial law regulating foreign funding of non-governmental organizations, has been met with fierce criticism. Protesters argue that its sweeping provisions will stifle dissent and undermine civil society.

The protests reached fever pitch following Parliament's passage of the bill, which requires organizations receiving foreign funding to register as "foreign agents." This designation would subject them to burdensome regulations and public scrutiny, effectively suppressing their activities.

Undeterred by the heavy police presence, protesters, including human rights activists, journalists, and opposition politicians, continued to rally outside Parliament and in the streets, their chants of "No to foreign agents!" resonating throughout the capital Tbilisi. Some protesters held placards bearing slogans such as "Democracy under attack" and "Stop the Kremlin's law."

These demonstrations underscore the growing public discontent with the government's authoritarian tendencies and its alignment with Moscow. The protests are a testament to the Georgian people's determination to protect their freedoms and resist the imposition of laws that threaten their democratic values.