Georgia, 63 arrested for protests against Russian-style law. Opposition leader beaten

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In Georgia, 63 protesters were arrested during night-time demonstrations between Tuesday 30 April and Wednesday 1 May, following police fired tear gas and rubber bullets at thousands of pro-EU demonstrators opposing a controversial “flu” law foreign law” which critics say is similar to the Russian law used once morest the opposition. The protesters are challenging the law promoted by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which will force all organisations, media and other entities that receive at least 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence”.

The Caucasian country has been gripped by anti-government protests since April 9, following the ruling party reintroduced the bill, seen as contrary to Tbilisi’s aspirations to join the European Union. Riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets once morest protesters. Several journalists were targeted, including an AFP photographer who was hit with a truncheon despite being clearly identified as a reporter. MP Levan Khabeishvili, chairman of jailed former president Mikheïl Saakachvili’s United National Movement, the main opposition party, was severely beaten and had to be treated. Local television stations broadcast images showing his face scarred by the blows. The Interior Ministry said police had made “legitimate” use of force because the demonstration had “turned violent” and said 63 people had been arrested for “disobeying the police” and committing acts of violence.

Borrell, «use of force once morest demonstrators unacceptable»

The use of force once morest protesters in Tbilisi is “unacceptable”. The High Representative for European Foreign Policy Josep Borrell wrote this in X, commenting on the repression of protests in Georgia once morest the law on foreign agents. “I strongly condemn the violence once morest protesters in Georgia who were peacefully demonstrating once morest the Foreign Influence Act. Georgia is a candidate country for EU membership, I ask its authorities to guarantee the right of peaceful assembly. The use of force to suppress it is unacceptable.”