Georgian Parliament Speaker calls on protesters to remain within peaceful assembly

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday called on citizens currently gathered in front of the Parliament building, who are protesting the approval of the transparency bill by the legislative body on Tuesday, to "remain within the legal framework of peaceful assembly".

In an interview with Imedi channel, Papuashvili noted that the “radical opposition has been trying to aggravate” the situation “in every possible way” with their statements and plans, and to lead the citizens to violate the law.

The participants of the rally recently broke the windows of the legislative body and removed the barriers, throwing rocks at law enforcement officers, after which the police used a water cannon against them and dispersed the rally, the Public Broadcaster said.

Photo via Interpressnews

Giorgi Vashadze, the Chair of the Strategy Agmashenebeli opposition party earlier tonight called on the participants of the rally to besiege the Parliament building.

• Opposition leader calls on protesters to besiege Parliament building

In its statement, the Internal Ministry announced its forces were mobilised to ensure the public order and called on the protesters, organisers of the rally and political leaders “not to go beyond the limits” of the law on freedom of assembly and expression.

The local news agency earlier on Wednesday announced that the first hearing of the draft law on Registration of Foreign Agents, scheduled for Thursday, would no longer be discussed at the plenary session of the Parliament.