Georgian police fire teargas as huge ‘foreign agents’ bill protests rock Tbilisi – Europe live

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63 people were detained in Georgia during a protest against the ‘foreign agents’ bill and six police officers were injured, Georgia’s interior ministry said, Reuters reported.

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demonstrator holds a flag of the European Union during a protest in Tbilisi.","caption":"A demonstrator holds a flag of the European Union during a protest in Tbilisi.","credit":"Photograph: Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters"}}],"attributes":{"pinned":false,"keyEvent":true,"summary":false},"blockCreatedOn":1714548464000,"blockCreatedOnDisplay":"08.27 BST","blockLastUpdated":1714548768000,"blockLastUpdatedDisplay":"08.32 BST","blockFirstPublished":1714548559000,"blockFirstPublishedDisplay":"08.29 BST","blockFirstPublishedDisplayNoTimezone":"08.29","title":"63 detained in Georgia protest: ministry","contributors":[],"primaryDateLine":"Wed 1 May 2024 08.32 BST","secondaryDateLine":"First published on Wed 1 May 2024 08.18 BST"},{"id":"6631ee338f08df7ec2bd9cd3","elements":[{"_type":"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.TextBlockElement","html":"

Jim O’Brien, the US state department’s assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, said late yesterday that he had an “important conversation with Georgian MPs about our bilateral relationship.”

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The discussion covered “our strong concerns over the draft Kremlin-inspired ‘foreign influence’ law and its negative impact on Georgia’s European aspirations,” he said.

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Important conversation with Georgian MPs about our bilateral relationship, including our strong concerns over the draft Kremlin-inspired “foreign influence” law and its negative impact on Georgia’s European aspirations.

&mdash; Assistant Secretary Jim O'Brien (@StateEUR) April 30, 2024

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“I am heartbroken to hear Ivanishvili’s vision for Georgia’s future,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s foreign minister.

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“I am devastated by this sudden change in relations with countries, including Lithuania, which have been Georgia’s closest allies. It feels like we are losing a friend,” he wrote in a social media post.

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“We are now shocked to see Georgians being dragged towards unfreedom by those who are most scared of freedom themselves. But we know that Georgians, like Lithuanians, are eternally free-spirited and freedom will always flourish,” he added.

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I am heartbroken to hear Ivanishvili’s vision for Georgia’s future. I am devastated by this sudden change in relations with countries, including Lithuania, which have been Georgia's closest allies. It feels like we are losing a friend.🧵

&mdash; Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) April 30, 2024

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Good morning and welcome back to the blog.

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Today we will be focusing on the latest in Georgia.

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Send tips and comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.

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Georgian security forces used water cannon, teargas and stun grenades against protesters outside parliament late on Tuesday, sharply escalating a crackdown after lawmakers debated a “foreign agents” bill that is viewed by the opposition and western nations as authoritarian and Russian-inspired.

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Reuters witnesses saw some police officers physically attack protesters – who threw eggs and bottles at them – before using teargas, water cannon and stun grenades to force demonstrators from the area outside the Soviet-built parliament building.

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Thousands of anti-government demonstrators have shut down Tbilisi’s central streets on a nightly basis since parliament approved the bill’s first reading on 17 April.

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Masked riot police violently rushed the peaceful rally while beating and arresting scores of people protesting against the bill. Several journalists were attacked, including an AFP photographer who was beaten with a rubber baton despite being clearly identified as a member of the press, according to the news agency.

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Levan Khabeishvili – the chairman of the main opposition United National Movement of jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili – was badly beaten and had to seek medical help.

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Read the full story.

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Reuters and Agence France-Presse

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Key events

63 detained in Georgia protest: ministry

63 people were detained in Georgia during a protest against the ‘foreign agents’ bill and six police officers were injured, Georgia’s interior ministry said, Reuters reported.

A woman reacts as law enforcement officers use a water cannon to disperse the crowd near the parliament building, during a rally to protest against a bill on ‘foreign agents’ in Tbilisi. Photograph: Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters
A demonstrator holds a flag of the European Union during a protest in Tbilisi. Photograph: Irakli Gedenidze/Reuters
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Updated at 08.32 BST

‘Strong concerns’: US official spoke with Georgian MPs

Jim O’Brien, the US state department’s assistant secretary for European and Eurasian affairs, said late yesterday that he had an “important conversation with Georgian MPs about our bilateral relationship.”

The discussion covered “our strong concerns over the draft Kremlin-inspired ‘foreign influence’ law and its negative impact on Georgia’s European aspirations,” he said.

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Important conversation with Georgian MPs about our bilateral relationship, including our strong concerns over the draft Kremlin-inspired “foreign influence” law and its negative impact on Georgia’s European aspirations.

&mdash; Assistant Secretary Jim O'Brien (@StateEUR) April 30, 2024

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Important conversation with Georgian MPs about our bilateral relationship, including our strong concerns over the draft Kremlin-inspired “foreign influence” law and its negative impact on Georgia’s European aspirations.

— Assistant Secretary Jim O’Brien (@StateEUR) April 30, 2024

Here are images from the latest protests in Tbilisi. Georgian security forces used water cannon, teargas and stun grenades against protesters outside parliament late yesterday.

An opposition party supporter and riot police during a protest against a draft bill on ‘foreign agents’ near the Parliament in Tbilisi, Georgia. Photograph: David Mdzinarishvili/EPA
Riot police use pepper spray to disperse protesters during a rally against a controversial “foreign influence” bill. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images
Protestors clash with the police as they block the exists of the parliament building in Tbilisi Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images

‘Heartbroken’: Lithuanian minister says Georgia situation like ‘losing a friend’

“I am heartbroken to hear Ivanishvili’s vision for Georgia’s future,” said Gabrielius Landsbergis, Lithuania’s foreign minister.

“I am devastated by this sudden change in relations with countries, including Lithuania, which have been Georgia’s closest allies. It feels like we are losing a friend,” he wrote in a social media post.

“We are now shocked to see Georgians being dragged towards unfreedom by those who are most scared of freedom themselves. But we know that Georgians, like Lithuanians, are eternally free-spirited and freedom will always flourish,” he added.

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I am heartbroken to hear Ivanishvili’s vision for Georgia’s future. I am devastated by this sudden change in relations with countries, including Lithuania, which have been Georgia's closest allies. It feels like we are losing a friend.🧵

&mdash; Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) April 30, 2024

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I am heartbroken to hear Ivanishvili’s vision for Georgia’s future. I am devastated by this sudden change in relations with countries, including Lithuania, which have been Georgia’s closest allies. It feels like we are losing a friend.🧵

— Gabrielius Landsbergis🇱🇹 (@GLandsbergis) April 30, 2024

Teargas and stun grenades used against Georgian protesters opposing ‘foreign agents’ bill

Georgian security forces used water cannon, teargas and stun grenades against protesters outside parliament late on Tuesday, sharply escalating a crackdown after lawmakers debated a “foreign agents” bill that is viewed by the opposition and western nations as authoritarian and Russian-inspired.

Reuters witnesses saw some police officers physically attack protesters – who threw eggs and bottles at them – before using teargas, water cannon and stun grenades to force demonstrators from the area outside the Soviet-built parliament building.

Thousands of anti-government demonstrators have shut down Tbilisi’s central streets on a nightly basis since parliament approved the bill’s first reading on 17 April.

Masked riot police violently rushed the peaceful rally while beating and arresting scores of people protesting against the bill. Several journalists were attacked, including an AFP photographer who was beaten with a rubber baton despite being clearly identified as a member of the press, according to the news agency.

Levan Khabeishvili – the chairman of the main opposition United National Movement of jailed ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili – was badly beaten and had to seek medical help.

Read the full story.

Reuters and Agence France-Presse

Welcome to the blog

Good morning and welcome back to the blog.

Today we will be focusing on the latest in Georgia.

Send tips and comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.

The Guardian