Health Ministry says 11 individuals, including 6 police officers, hospitalised following transparency bill protests

The Ministry of Health of Georgia on Wednesday said 11 individuals, including six law enforcement officers, had been hospitalised after receiving injuries during protests in Tbilisi on Tuesday against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence.

The body added some of the individuals had been discharged from clinics following treatment.

Participants of the rally began dispersing around 9:30 pm, with local media reporting police use of water cannons and tear gas. A part of the participants marched towards the Government Administration, where they clashed with the police.

Special law enforcement forces used pepper spray, water cannons and tear gas against protesters for several hours, with dozens injured before receiving first aid on the spot. Sixty-three protesters were also arrested.

• Deputy Interior Minister says 63 detained, 6 officers injured during transparency bill protests

The bill, reintroduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party after its retraction following protests last year, calls for registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.

Its reintroduction has been met with criticism from the opposition, the domestic NGO sector and a part of Georgia’s foreign partner states and diplomatic representations.

The first hearing of the draft law was passed on April 17 by the legislative body, with the second hearing resumed on Wednesday.

The lawmaking body has introduced the yellow level of security in the venue following the clashes on Tuesday. The level means that only persons invited by relevant structural units of the institution will be admitted to the plenary session.