Georgian Police Crack Down On Protesters Rallying Over 'Foreign Agent' Law.

TBILISI -- Georgian police used water cannons, tear gas, and batons overnight against demonstrators protesting the parliament's vote to advance a controversial foreign influence bill that has sparked weeks of mass protests and warnings from the West that it would damage Georgia's course toward joining Euro-Atlantic institutions.

Tens of thousands gathered outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, while another large protest was reportedly staged in Georgia's second-largest city, Batumi, as lawmakers voted 83 to 23 to advance the bill in a second reading after a riotous debate that included the expulsion of opposition deputies and scuffles.

The ruling party has said it wants to sign it into law by mid-May.

Riot police outside the parliament clashed with protesters who refused to disperse, and at least 11 people, including six police officers, were receiving hospital treatment after being injured, according to Georgia's Health Ministry quoted by the media.

Videos circulating on social media purported to show injured demonstrators receiving first aid from other demonstrators or paramedics.

Most protesters were eventually dispersed, with the exception of a group that remained on Rustaveli street in the vicinity of the parliament building as late as 5 a.m. on May 2.

In a statement, the U.S. State Department condemned the violence against protesters and the lawmakers' vote, calling it anti-Western.

"The statements and actions of the Georgian government are incompatible with the democratic values that underpin membership in the EU and NATO and thus jeopardize Georgia's path to Euro-Atlantic integration," the statement said.

"The United States condemns the Kremlin-inspired 'foreign influence' legislation advanced in Georgia's parliament earlier today and the false narrative government officials have adopted to defend it," it said. "We stand with the Georgian people and their right to have their voices heard."

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also issued a statement, saying Georgia is at a crossroads and should "stay the course" on the road to Europe.

Citizens of the EU candidate country "are demonstrating their strong attachment to democracy and the Georgian government should heed this message, von der Leyen said.

"The European Union has also clearly expressed its concerns regarding the law on foreign influence. The Georgian people want a European future for their country," she added .
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell condemned the "violence against protesters" in a May 1 post on X, formerly Twitter.

"Georgia is an EU candidate country," he wrote. "I call on its authorities to ensure the right to peaceful assembly."

Meanwhile, Georgia's Special Investigation Service announced that a probe into excessive force against the demonstrators is ongoing.

The May 1 demonstration was the latest in a series of mass protests over the past two weeks against legislation put forward by the ruling Georgian Dream party that is regarded by many as mirroring a law used by the Russian government to stifle dissent in that country.

Critics call the bill "the Russian law," and President Salome Zurabishvili, who has distanced herself from the policies of the ruling party, has promised to veto it if it is formally adopted in a third reading, as expected.
However, the government has the votes to override a veto and has said it will do so. Lawmakers ended the session on April 30 without a vote.

On April 30, the international hacking collective Anonymous expressed support for the protesters and warned the Georgian police that "attacking protesters will result in the release of information about all your government officials."

In a post on X , the group threatened to hack and release databases and e-mail, saying "this is your first and only warning."