Georgian Parliament cancels session citing damage caused by rally against bill on transparency on foreign influence
The legislative body said the “building and infrastructure” had been damaged “as a result of the violent actions” of the protesters on Wednesday. Photo: Parliament of Georgia
Tweet 
Share
The Georgian Parliament on Thursday cancelled its scheduled bureau and plenary sessions, citing damage caused to the building by participants of a rally against the bill on transparency of foreign influence in Tbilisi on Wednesday.
The legislative body said the “building and infrastructure” had been damaged “as a result of the violent actions” of the protesters on Wednesday.
Therefore, today the planned events will not be held in the Parliament [...] Cleaning and restoration works are currently underway”, the statement noted.
Security measures at the lawmaking institution have also been heightened, with the red security level in effect until early afternoon and transitioning to the yellow level after.
Under the red security level, no individual except for those cleared by the Head of the Staff will be allowed into the Parliament.
The Interior Ministry on Wednesday said participants of the rally had attempted to damage the iron gates of the legislative body following the withdrawal of law enforcement units from the territory surrounding the building.
Georgia’s Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze on Thursday called on the participants of the ongoing protests over the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence outside the Parliament in the country’s capital Tbilisi, to stop “violent and illegal” actions and protest in a “peaceful manner”, otherwise the law enforcement officers would be “forced to stop” the rally.
The Georgian Parliament on Wednesday approved the second reading of the bill on the transparency of foreign influence that has sparked public protests and criticism by some of the country’s foreign partners.
Georgia’s Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze on Wednesday said law enforcement officers had arrested 63 individuals during public protests over the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence outside the Parliament in the country’s capital Tbilisi between Tuesday and Wednesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday claimed that domestic radical opposition was mobilising a 300-member “violent group”, who would “definitely” resort to violence on today’s rally against the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence.