Tension in Georgia

A tense situation has arisen near the Georgian Parliament building. Arrests have begun in front of the Parliament. This unrest comes after the third reading of the bill on "Transparency of Foreign Influence" was adopted.

Following the passage of the law, which addresses foreign agents, security measures in the legislature's building have escalated to a red alert level. The session during which the law was passed took place amid protests, leading to several clashes between demonstrators and police.

Subsequently, protesters broke down barricades blocking access to the Parliament courtyard. In response, law enforcement has intensified arrests. The Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs has used loudspeakers to demand that those gathered leave the area adjacent to the Parliament, warning that special measures and water cannons will be employed if they do not comply.

Protesters, who blocked Rustaveli Avenue, have also damaged the iron barriers near the Parliament building. Clashes have erupted between the protesters and the police as law enforcement officials began using special measures.

Earlier, the Georgian Parliament adopted the "Transparency of Foreign Influence" law in a third reading with votes of 84 in favor and 30 against. This measure has been labeled as "anti-Western" in the West. Protesters, opposition members, and the President of Georgia contend that this initiative mirrors Russian legislation on "foreign agents" and aims to restrict the activities of media outlets and NGOs receiving foreign funding.