More than half a dozen citizens of Sakartvel carrying flags and banners started the gathering by marching towards the country’s embassy. Later, they organized a protest action next to it.
As the representative of the Vilnius County Police stated to Eltai, a permit was issued for the protest taking place in Vilnius.
“The march went smoothly, a small event is currently taking place near the embassy. About 60 people. Special forces are assigned to maintain public order,” he said.
ELTA recalls that thousands of Sakartveli residents have renewed protests after parliament approved the controversial “foreign agents” bill despite weeks of demonstrations and warnings from Brussels that it would harm Tbilisi’s EU bids.
Sakartvelo’s ruling Sakartvelo Dream party has said it intends to sign the law by mid-May, arguing that it aims only to increase the transparency of foreign funding of civic groups.
Still, critics say the proposed law resembles a repressive Russian law used to silence dissent.
The country’s president, Salome Zurabishvili, previously promised to veto the document if it was passed in the third reading. But the ruling party “Sakartwell’s Dream” has enough votes to overcome the president’s veto.
Tags: protest organized Vilnius foreign agents law considered Sakartvele
