Protesters take to the streets as Georgia parliament advances 'foreign agent' bill

Record ID: 1819354

  • Title: Protesters take to the streets as Georgia parliament advances 'foreign agent' bill
  • Date: 17th April 2024
  • Summary: TBILISI, GEORGIA (APRIL 17, 2024) (REUTERS) (NIGHT SHOTS) ***WARNING: CONTAINS PROFANITY*** LARGE CROWDS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED PROTESTERS SURROUNDING VEHICLE / VEHICLE BACKING AWAY / ONE PROTESTER MAKING PROFANE SIGNAL WITH HIS HAND VEHICLE BACKING AWAY WHILE BEING SURROUNDED BY PROTESTERS VARIOUS OF PROTESTERS GATHERED NEAR GOVERNMENT BUILDING PROTESTERS CHANTING PROTESTERS GATHERED NEAR GOVERNMENT BUILDING PROTESTERS HOLDING UP SIGNS PROTESTERS GATHERED AND CHANTING
  • Embargoed: 2nd May 2024 00:10
  • Keywords: Georgia Georgian Dream party Russia Soviet abroad funds foreign agent organizations protests
  • Location: TBILISI, GEORGIA
  • City: TBILISI, GEORGIA
  • Country: Georgia
  • Topics: Europe,Lawmaking,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001605217042024RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:DITORS PLEASE NOTE: EDIT CONTAINS PROFANE GESTURE IN SHOT #2
    Thousands of people in Georgia took to the streets of Tbilisi on Wednesday evening (April 17) protesting against a bill on "foreign agents" which critics see as authoritarian and Russian-inspired.
    More than 5,000 demonstrators amassed outside Georgia's Soviet-built parliament building, heavily guarded by police, demanding the government withdraw the legislation requiring organizations that accept funds from abroad to register as foreign agents or face fines.
    Georgia's Interior Ministry said in a statement that 14 protesters had been detained for public order violations and one police officer had been treated for injuries. Georgian critics label the bill "the Russian law," comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent.
    The ruling Georgian Dream party, which has faced accusations of authoritarianism and excessive closeness to Russia, says the bill is necessary to promote transparency and combat "pseudo-liberal values" imposed by foreigners.
    (Production: Andrea Rodriguez)
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2024. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
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