Fight among MPs sparks civil unrest after interference from ‘Russian law’

Protests against the reintroduction of the ‘Foreign Agent Bill’in Tbilisi, Georgia on April 16, 2024 (Picture: Getty)

This is the disturbing moment police in riot gear teargassed an elderly man, propping himself up with a cane.

Footage flooding social media shows officers – some carrying shotguns – ‘hunting down’ demonstrators, lashing them with batons and spraying them with tear gas in their faces.

Multiple people were seen with bloodied noses and mouths, trying to escape the police who spared no one.

The scenes took place in the Georgian capital, Tbilisi, where protests erupted in the last 48 hours over an ‘authoritarian’ ‘Foreign Agent Bill’ described as Russian-style law.

Police officers detain a protestor during a demonstration outside the parliament building in Tbilisi (Picture: AP)

Violence engulfed the streets in the vicinity of Shota Rustaveli Avenue, where the Georgian Parliament is located, late into the night.

As many as 10,000 protesters massed outside, a much larger gathering than the previous day, to denounce the bill, approved by the parliamentary committee on Monday.

David Katsarava, leader of the Georgian anti-occupation movement ‘Strength in Unity’, attended the protests since they began at the beginning of the week.

He told Metro.co.uk that police were ‘obeying Russian instructions’ when striking people.

Injured protesters being treated in an ambulance (Picture: AP)

The former Georgian actor said: ‘Police are targeting us for no reason. This is the manner in which they treat us – you can see it all in the videos on social media.

‘This is based on instructions from Russia, and the Georgian government has been obeying them.

‘Protests started literally an hour after the pro-Russian government approved the bill, just like in March 2023.

‘Everyone realises that this law is exactly what Russia used to silence the society in the country, and they were very successful.

Police block protestors gathered outside the parliament building (Picture: AP)

‘So, we know that we cannot accept this law. We were out on the streets yesterdaywhen police began using violence.’

A video shows dozens of officers hunting down people door-to-door and street-by-street.

According to the preliminary information, at least 16 protesters were detained in Tbilisi, some of those have been released. Two report being ‘severely beaten’.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry said one police officer was injured in the disturbance.

The Georgian parliament has revived a draft law after shelving an earlier version in response to mass protests in March 2023 (Picture: Getty)

Critics have compared the bill to Russian legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent.

This accusation carries a lot of weight in the South Caucasus nation, where Russia backed the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Nika Melia, a prominent opposition politician, said Georgian Dream government was ‘in cahoots’ with Vladimir Putin and the issue was about the country’s very independence.

‘What I can say definitely is that Georgians and the Georgian will cannot be defeated,’ he said.

Police block the street of the parliament building (Picture: Getty)

‘No chance. Georgians will prevail over the Russian interest.’

Russian Security Council deputy head Dmitry Medvedev supported the draft law on foreign influence in Georgia.

Protests continues after on Monday, Mamuka Mdinaradze, leading ruler of the Georgian Dream party and a politician who supports the ‘foreign agent’ bill, was punched by opposition leader Aleko Elisashvili while speaking.

President Salome Zourabichvili, a frequent critic of Georgian Dream, wrote on X that drive to pass the bill was a provocation and a Russian strategy to destabilise her country.

Protesters shouted slogans against the ‘Russian law’ on Tuesday afternoon as police sealed entrances to the Soviet-built complex.

During the debate on the bill, Archil Talakvadze, a senior MP representing Georgian Dream, said: ‘This law defends democracy in our country from any foreign interference.’

In response, Tina Bokuchava, parliamentary leader of the United National Movement opposition party said: ‘Recall this law, once and for all!

‘There is no place in Georgia for a Russian law. Europe is the choice of the Georgian people.’

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