02:25Mass protests against the so-called 'foreign agents' bill continued outside the Georgian parliament on Thursday.
Footage shows hundreds of protesters waving Georgian and EU flags while chanting slogans.
According to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, two people were detained for 'violation of public order', with one of them allegedly carrying a bladed weapon.
Pro-EU President Salome Zourabichvili voiced her support for the protesters.
"The third night of worthy protest against the adoption of the Russian law! On the one hand - the Georgian people, on the other - 83 MPs who voted against the European future. People always win!" she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. She also vowed to veto the bill if it passes all three readings.
Earlier on Wednesday the parliament voted in favour of the draft law 'On Transparency of Foreign Influence' on the first reading with 83 votes in favour to zero against. Two more readings are required before it becomes law. The opposition did not participate.
Following the vote, the EU released a statement saying: "This is a very concerning development and the final adoption of this legislation would negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path."
"This law is not in line with EU core norms and values," it added.
Protests have been ongoing outside the parliament since Monday. The legislation was postponed in February following mass rallies against it.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 per cent 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 Georgian Dream party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference.
Mass protests against 'foreign agents' law continue in Tbilisi
Mass protests against the so-called 'foreign agents' bill continued outside the Georgian parliament on Thursday.
Footage shows hundreds of protesters waving Georgian and EU flags while chanting slogans.
According to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, two people were detained for 'violation of public order', with one of them allegedly carrying a bladed weapon.
Pro-EU President Salome Zourabichvili voiced her support for the protesters.
"The third night of worthy protest against the adoption of the Russian law! On the one hand - the Georgian people, on the other - 83 MPs who voted against the European future. People always win!" she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. She also vowed to veto the bill if it passes all three readings.
Earlier on Wednesday the parliament voted in favour of the draft law 'On Transparency of Foreign Influence' on the first reading with 83 votes in favour to zero against. Two more readings are required before it becomes law. The opposition did not participate.
Following the vote, the EU released a statement saying: "This is a very concerning development and the final adoption of this legislation would negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path."
"This law is not in line with EU core norms and values," it added.
Protests have been ongoing outside the parliament since Monday. The legislation was postponed in February following mass rallies against it.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 per cent 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 Georgian Dream party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference.
Mass protests against the so-called 'foreign agents' bill continued outside the Georgian parliament on Thursday.
Footage shows hundreds of protesters waving Georgian and EU flags while chanting slogans.
According to Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs, two people were detained for 'violation of public order', with one of them allegedly carrying a bladed weapon.
Pro-EU President Salome Zourabichvili voiced her support for the protesters.
"The third night of worthy protest against the adoption of the Russian law! On the one hand - the Georgian people, on the other - 83 MPs who voted against the European future. People always win!" she wrote on X, formerly Twitter. She also vowed to veto the bill if it passes all three readings.
Earlier on Wednesday the parliament voted in favour of the draft law 'On Transparency of Foreign Influence' on the first reading with 83 votes in favour to zero against. Two more readings are required before it becomes law. The opposition did not participate.
Following the vote, the EU released a statement saying: "This is a very concerning development and the final adoption of this legislation would negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path."
"This law is not in line with EU core norms and values," it added.
Protests have been ongoing outside the parliament since Monday. The legislation was postponed in February following mass rallies against it.
Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 per cent 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 Georgian Dream party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference.