Organizers announce repeated mass protest against agents law in Tbilisi

Organizers of protests in Tbilisi against the controversial foreign influence bill, also branded as a “Russian law”, on Thursday announced a march from central Freedom Square to the Ministry of Internal Affairs office on Friday, saying demonstrators would gather at 7 p.m. 

Since the initiation of the “Russian law,” the police have arrested more than 200 protestors on trumped-up charges. Dozens have received fines for offenses they did not commit, and hundreds have been summoned for questioning as part of a baseless investigation, the statement said. 

Dozens of people were severely beaten by the police, some of whom are still receiving treatment, it added.

“We want a lawful state where the police protect us, and the government does not use law enforcement as a political weapon. We want police officers’ children to be proud of their parents’ conduct, and for officers to chase criminals, not harass patriotic, freedom-fighting, and educated young people.

We don’t want our peers and friends to be ashamed of their police parents’ actions. Their children are also fighting for Georgia’s European future with us.

Today, unfortunately, the police do not obey the law but follow Bidzina Ivanishvili [in reference to the founder and honorary chair of the ruling party], who is obsessed with conspiracy theories and has become the main perpetrator himself. The Minister of Internal Affairs, (Vakhtang)Gomelauri, is Ivanishvili’s former personal bodyguard and has turned the Georgian police into Ivanishvili’s personal security service, which offends any Georgian”, the statement said. 

“With this march, let’s show solidarity with all our arrested, imprisoned, and injured comrades participating in the protest. Let’s say, “Yes to Europe! No to the Russian law!” said the organizers. 

The bill passed with its final reading earlier this month and was vetoed by the president.