Georgia's Minister of Internal Affairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri, announced on Thursday the commencement of investigations into a series of assaults aimed at opponents of the controversial foreign transparency bill in Tbilisi.

Among those targeted in Wednesday's attacks were Gia Japaridze, an international relations specialist, activist Lasha Gvinianidze, and Dimitri Chikovani, a member of the United National Movement opposition party. They were physically assaulted by unidentified assailants on the streets of Tbilisi, prompting widespread condemnation and demands for accountability.

Speaking during the Victory Day celebrations in Tbilisi, Gomelauri condemned all forms of violence and assured the public that investigations into the incidents had been promptly initiated. However, the identities and motives of the perpetrators are still under investigation.

Responding to inquiries about government responsibility for the attacks on opposition figures, Gomelauri reiterated his stance against violence, condemning such acts regardless of the victims' political affiliations. He called for consistency in demands for accountability, pointing out disparities in media attention towards similar incidents in the past.

These assaults occurred amidst ongoing protests against the foreign transparency bill, with opposition parties accusing the ruling party Georgian Dream of inciting violence against dissenting voices. Prior to the recent attacks, similar incidents targeted protesters and critical journalists.

The Georgian Dream party passed the bill on May 1 in its second reading, with 83 votes in favor and 23 against. Last year, the bill faced rejection following widespread protests. 

While the bill's content remains largely unchanged, the only alteration is in its title, replacing the term “agent” with “Organization Pursuing the Interests of a Foreign Power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their incomes from abroad.