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Georgia: street anger is violently repressed
Georgia: street anger is violently repressed
(franceinfo)
In Georgia, new demonstrations are expected this Thursday, May 2 in the evening after yesterday’s demonstration which brought together tens of thousands of people in front of Parliament. Protesters denounce controversial bill.
In front of the door of the Georgian Parliament, tensions broke out between demonstrators and the police. Protesters are kept at bay by water cannons and tear gas as they try to take cover behind trash cans. A little earlier, there were tens of thousands in the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, to say “No” to the foreign influence bill. A bill judged by its detractors to be similar to Russian legislation, used to suppress the opposition.
France and the United States very worried
If adopted, the bill would prevent Georgia from joining the European Union even though its candidacy has been official since last December. The text must still pass a third reading in Parliament and the president, in conflict with the ruling party, is expected to veto it. If Europe and the United States have said they are very worried about the situation, the Kremlin sees it as an opportunity to strengthen its hold on Georgia. The UN, for its part, called for the withdrawal of the bill.
