Security forces used tear gas, water cannons and rubber batons against tens of thousands of protesters on Tuesday night. Protests in the country are directed against the government’s plans to curb alleged foreign influence on civil society.
The second reading of the relevant law continues in Parliament on Wednesday. Among those detained is Levans Chabeišvilis, the chairman of the largest opposition party “Jungtinis nationalis judumas” (UNM). The oppositionist posted a photo of his face bloody and swollen. He stated that he was beaten by officers.
Security forces moved against demonstrators on Tuesday evening to push them away from parliament. The situation calmed down only at night. New protests are planned for Wednesday.
The protests arose over a draft law requiring non-governmental organizations to disclose the sources of foreign funds. The ruling party “Sakartvel’s Dream” says it is aiming for greater transparency and control of foreign influence. Many democracy promotion projects in Sakartvel are financed by the West, as well as the EU and the USA. Critics fear that the law could be abused along the lines of Moscow to stem the flow of money and persecute pro-Western forces.
Since 2012 the ruling “Sakartwell Dream” is increasingly authoritarian ahead of the fall parliamentary elections. Pro-European demonstrators fear that this course will affect rapprochement with the EU. Sakartvel is an EU candidate country.
Tags: Dozens people arrested antigovernment protests Sakartvele
