Foreign agent bill protest: Billionaire ex-PM back in spotlight as Georgian standoff intensifies

Georgia police on Thursday (May 2) fired tear gas, water cannons and stun grenades to clear a large crowd of protesters opposing the second reading of a foreign agents bill.

GeorgiaParliament on Wednesday (May 1) approved the second reading of a bill on "foreign agents" that has been criticised as Kremlin-inspired.

A law requiring foreign-funded NGOs to register as foreign agents has ignited a political firestorm in Georgia. Protests have swelled over the past month, culminating in a massive demonstration of tens of thousands that shut down central Tbilisi on Wednesday. This marks the largest anti-government rally in the country yet.

Georgia's Health Ministry said 11 people, including six police officers, had received hospital treatment after Wednesday's altercations, as quoted by Georgian media.

Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze, quoted by Georgian media, said protesterstried to push their way into the parliament using various objects and were attacking policemen.

Darakhvelidze said police action on Tuesday resulted in 63 arrests and six police officers being injured.

Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who opposes the bill but has ceremonial powers, urged protesters in a social media video to remain calm. The real challenge, she noted, is to remove the government in the October election.

"Our fate will not be determined by this law," she said in comments quoted by media. "This fight will take place in the forthcoming parliamentary election after which (this) law and many others will be rescinded."

Georgian critics have dubbed the bill "the Russian law", saying it is inspired by laws used to suppress dissent in Vladimir Putin's Russia. Moscow is unpopular among a large part of theGeorgian population. The country lost a brief war with Moscow in 2008.

Meanwhile, protesters regrouped, with some lighting a bonfire outside the parliament, and others attempting to build makeshift barricades to block key roads.

The Georgian Dream-led parliament and its allies approved the bill's advancement, drawing jeers from the protestersoutside. The bill requires one more vote to become law.

Wednesday's parliamentary debate was tense, with opposition members expelled and scuffles between legislators, a common occurrence in Georgia's often-rowdy parliament.

One pro-government deputy was seen throwing a book at opposition legislators, while others shouted and physically confronted opponents.

(With inputs from agencies)