٠٠:٠٣:٠٢Police used tear gas and foam to disperse participants of a mass rally against the 'foreign agent' bill, which passed its second reading at the parliament in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
Footage shows protesters wearing tear masks walking along the city streets, throwing fences and other objects at the parliament building, while police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
According to Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Alexandre Darakhvelidze, police used "special means established by law: tear gas and water cannons" as "aggressive groups of rally participants continued to break down the parliament’s door and attempted to enter the territory of the legislative body without authorisation".
He also added that seven officers were injured, one of whom was hospitalised. Meanwhile, the Georgian Health Ministry reported that eight civilians were injured during the rally, suffering 'various injuries, including wounds on the face, head and body, as well as intoxication and respiratory complications.'
On Wednesday, Georgian MPs passed the draft law 'On Transparency of Foreign Influence' in the second reading by a majority of 83 votes to 23. A further third reading is required before it can become law.
Western nations and blocs, including the US, UK and EU, have condemned the legislation, with the latter releasing a statement warning that the law ‘is not in line with EU core norms and values‘ and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.
Earlier, Pro-EU President Salome Zourabichvili voiced her support those protesting against the law outside the parliament and said she would veto the bill should it be passed in the third reading.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 percent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'.
Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.
Police use tear gas, foam to disperse rally against 'foreign agent' law in Tbilisi
Police used tear gas and foam to disperse participants of a mass rally against the 'foreign agent' bill, which passed its second reading at the parliament in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
Footage shows protesters wearing tear masks walking along the city streets, throwing fences and other objects at the parliament building, while police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
According to Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Alexandre Darakhvelidze, police used "special means established by law: tear gas and water cannons" as "aggressive groups of rally participants continued to break down the parliament’s door and attempted to enter the territory of the legislative body without authorisation".
He also added that seven officers were injured, one of whom was hospitalised. Meanwhile, the Georgian Health Ministry reported that eight civilians were injured during the rally, suffering 'various injuries, including wounds on the face, head and body, as well as intoxication and respiratory complications.'
On Wednesday, Georgian MPs passed the draft law 'On Transparency of Foreign Influence' in the second reading by a majority of 83 votes to 23. A further third reading is required before it can become law.
Western nations and blocs, including the US, UK and EU, have condemned the legislation, with the latter releasing a statement warning that the law ‘is not in line with EU core norms and values‘ and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.
Earlier, Pro-EU President Salome Zourabichvili voiced her support those protesting against the law outside the parliament and said she would veto the bill should it be passed in the third reading.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 percent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'.
Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.
Police used tear gas and foam to disperse participants of a mass rally against the 'foreign agent' bill, which passed its second reading at the parliament in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
Footage shows protesters wearing tear masks walking along the city streets, throwing fences and other objects at the parliament building, while police used tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowds.
According to Georgian Deputy Interior Minister Alexandre Darakhvelidze, police used "special means established by law: tear gas and water cannons" as "aggressive groups of rally participants continued to break down the parliament’s door and attempted to enter the territory of the legislative body without authorisation".
He also added that seven officers were injured, one of whom was hospitalised. Meanwhile, the Georgian Health Ministry reported that eight civilians were injured during the rally, suffering 'various injuries, including wounds on the face, head and body, as well as intoxication and respiratory complications.'
On Wednesday, Georgian MPs passed the draft law 'On Transparency of Foreign Influence' in the second reading by a majority of 83 votes to 23. A further third reading is required before it can become law.
Western nations and blocs, including the US, UK and EU, have condemned the legislation, with the latter releasing a statement warning that the law ‘is not in line with EU core norms and values‘ and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.
Earlier, Pro-EU President Salome Zourabichvili voiced her support those protesting against the law outside the parliament and said she would veto the bill should it be passed in the third reading.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 percent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'.
Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.