Opposition leader’s calls to “besiege Parliament” at Tbilisi rally “irresponsible” - MP

Aleksandre Rakviashvili, an MP of the Girchi opposition party, on Thursday said the calls by Giorgi Vashadze, the Chair of the Strategy Agmashenebeli party, for demonstrators protesting the foreign influence transparency bill in Tbilisi on Wednesday to “besiege” the Parliament building had been “irresponsible”.

Speaking to the media, the MP claimed Vashadze’s actions during the protest - which saw demonstrators clash with law enforcement outside the Parliament - had been intended to “use sincere emotions of young demonstrators for [his] narrow political interests”, adding the opposition politician’s calls had placed their safety and goals of the rally under threat. 

A group of demonstrators broke windows of the building of the legislative body, removed protective barriers outside the Parliament, damaged a police vehicle and threw eggs at law enforcement officers. 

The Georgian Interior Ministry on Thursday said it had arrested 133 individuals during the protests on Tuesday and Wednesday for “violation of public order [and] rule of law”. 

Video by the Interior Ministry, reflecting developments on Thursday at Tbilisi rally. 

The ruling Georgian Dream party on Thursday said it was “unconditionally” withdrawing the bill that was met by a backlash by domestic opposition, civil sector and diplomatic representations in the country, citing the interest of maintaining domestic “tranquillity”, the country’s development and its European integration aspirations as factors behind the decision. 

Accusing “radical domestic forces” of involving young demonstrators in protests against the bill this week in “illegal activities” during the rallies, the ruling party extended its gratitude to law enforcement officers for “responding to violence with patience” in accordance with “highest [democratic] standards”.

The draft law, which involved registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, passed its first hearing at the Parliament earlier this week, with its discussions accompanied by heated exchanges and clashes between MPs, as well as the public rallies outside the legislative body.                                     

The European Union representation in Georgia and the bloc’s officials have welcomed the ruling party's recall of the bill, urging “all political actors” in the country to focus on the implementation of the 12-point conditions outlined by it in June for granting the membership candidate status to Georgia later this year.