Streets turn into a battlefield in Georgia's capital, Tbilisi

In Tbilisi, protests continued against the 'transparency of foreign influence' bill, which the ruling Georgian Dream Party submitted to parliament in April.

Demonstrators, who remained around the Parliament building from late last night until this morning and chanted slogans against the bill, carried Georgia and European Union (EU) flags.

The protesters attempted to block the entry of members of parliament into the Parliament building for the Legal Affairs Committee meeting scheduled for today regarding the bill, which has already passed two readings in parliament.

Security forces, who took extensive measures on the streets and avenues surrounding the Parliament building, called on the protesters this morning to "open the entrances to the building."

Despite the police opening the entrances to the building in an area where special forces were deployed, scuffles broke out between the protesters and security forces several times.

FINAL VOTE TO BE HELD

Lawmakers supporting the bill also entered the Parliament after the police cleared the way and attended the Legal Affairs Committee where the bill was being discussed.

The third and final vote on the government-proposed "transparency of foreign influence" bill will be held in Parliament tomorrow.

MANY PEOPLE DETAINED

In a statement issued by the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, it was reported that 20 people were detained during the clashes that occurred during the protests in Tbilisi this morning.

The statement noted that one of those detained is a citizen of Russia and two are citizens of the USA.

Protests against the "transparency of foreign influence" bill in Georgia have been ongoing for about a month.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, in a speech he gave yesterday regarding the approval process of the bill, had stated that some protesters were planning acts of violence for today and tomorrow.

Noting that Georgia is a sovereign and independent state, Kobakhidze emphasized that the police would respond to any potential acts of violence.

News Source: 12punto