A number of countries were alarmed by the events in Sakartvele

On Wednesday, tens of thousands of people took to the streets again in Tbilisi to protest against the “foreign influence” law. Nevertheless, the parliament approved the controversial draft law in the second reading. Opponents see it as an instrument to persecute critics.

During the rally, people waved Sakartvelo and EU flags, Sakartvelo’s national anthem and “Ode to joy” sounded.

Police later used pepper and tear gas and water cannons against hundreds of demonstrators in the courtyard of the parliament building. They tried to block the side entrance to the parliament. Already on Tuesday, the police fired tear gas and about 60 demonstrators were arrested.

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.

Protests against the law have been going on in Sakartvel for many weeks. Sakartvelas has been an EU candidate country since December. According to Brussels, the law harms the country’s bid for membership.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called on the government in Tbilisi to continue moving in the direction of the EU. “The citizens of Sackartwell demonstrate their deep commitment to democracy. The Sakartwell government must heed this clear message,” U. von der Leyen wrote on the X network. At the same time, she condemned the violent actions against the demonstrators.

“The use of force to suppress peaceful assembly and freedom of expression is unacceptable,” said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller. He accused the ruling party “Sakartvel’s Dream” of “anti-Western rhetoric”.

France’s foreign ministry said on the X network that Paris was monitoring the situation with “concern”. The ministry also criticized the “violence against the demonstrators”. Sakartvelas has to continue his efforts “taking into account the desire of the population to get closer to the European Union”.