Protests in Georgia at curb on ‘foreign agents’

GEORGIAN police used tear gas and water cannon against protesters yesterday as thousands of demonstrators took to the streets in the capital, Tbilisi, to oppose a controversial “foreign agents” bill.

At one point a protester opposed to the law, which would impose registration requirements on media and NGOS with foreign ties, threw a Molotov cocktail at a cordon of riot police, according to television footage.

The demonstration took place after Georgian politcians yesterday gave initial backing to the draft law, which is reminiscent of Russia’s legislation used to crack down on dissent. In 2012, Russia adopted a law to let authorities take action against NGOS, media outlets and others deemed to be acting as “foreign agents”.

Salome Zourabichvili, the Georgian president, expressed support for the demonstrators and vowed to veto the law.

“I stand with you because you are representing today the free Georgia which sees its future in Europe and will not let anyone steal this future,” she said in a video from the United States where she is on an official visit.

The US embassy in Georgia called the legislation “Kremlin-inspired” and said it was incompatible with Georgia’s desire to join the European Union.