Violent riots against the “foreign agents” law in Georgia

Water cannons and tear gas fired at protesters at protests in Georgia following the first reading approval of a controversial law on foreign agents. Dozens of people were arrested.

The law requires media outlets and non-governmental organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as “foreign influence agents.”.

Its detractors consider the bill “undemocratic” and similar to the one that the Kremlin backed in its day. From New York, the Georgian president, who has said that she will veto the law, has sent a message of support to the protesters.

“I’m standing in New York, and behind me is the Statue of Liberty. It is a symbol that Georgia has always fought for, for which we have come to this day. I am with you, because today you represent free Georgia,” he said.

**The European Union warned Georgia that the final adoption of the law on foreign agents may “have serious consequences for relations” with Brussels. **This rule is “incompatible” with EU values ​​and standards and will “against” the country’s goal of joining the community club,” the head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said in a statement.

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