On the evening of May 1st, a large demonstration in Tbilisi took place against the passage of the law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”. The opposition compared this law to Russia’s foreign agents law and erected barricades around parliament. The police used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the protesters, resulting in several hours of clashes before they finally withdrew from Rustaveli Avenue.
During the confrontation, opposition politicians, including leaders of the United National Movement and Citizens parties, were beaten by police. Over 60 oppositionists were also detained during the clash. This law requires organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register with authorities as organizations representing foreign interests. Failure to comply with the law can result in a fine of GEL 25,000 ($9,400).
The events of May 1st have highlighted ongoing tensions between the opposition and government in Georgia. While the opposition sees this law as a threat to democracy, the government defends it as necessary for transparency and national security. Both sides are preparing for further demonstrations and political actions in response to these events.
