TBILISI -- Protesters who rallied against the Georgian government's plan to approve a controversial "foreign agent" law say they were beaten by security forces who launched a violent crackdown with water cannons, volleys of tear gas, and, according to some eyewitnesses, rubber bullets.
Tensions remained high as tens of thousands of people returned to the streets late on May 3 as the standoff continued between the government and demonstrators who have been staging mass protests in the center of the South Caucasus country's capital.
Tbilisi's main Rustaveli Avenue once again appeared blocked late on May 3 and early into the morning, with some protesters holding candles and EU and Georgian flags in the Kashveti Church.
Thousands of protesters moved to an area near the Paragraph Hotel, where a meeting of the Asian Development Bank is being held. The hotel is owned by an investment fund controlled by former Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, the influential billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party
At least one person was detained near the hotel for allegedly “insulting” police officers, the head of the Tbilisi Police Patrol told RFE/RL.
Authorities said police had arrested at least 23 people overnight, bringing the total to at least 100 detained over the past three days. The Interior Ministry told RFE/RL that detainees have been accused of administrative offenses, petty hooliganism, and disobeying police officers.
Eyewitnesses, including two injured men, told RFE/RL that what they called "provocateurs" arrived by car around 1 a.m. in Heroes' Square and physically assaulted some of the protesters.
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Injured Reporter Says Georgian Police Used Rubber Bullets Against Protesters
It was the continuation of days of protests over the proposed law, denounced by opponents as being inspired by similar repressive legislation in Russia that Moscow has used to stifle dissent.
The bill would require organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence." Opponents warn that implementing the law could jeopardize the country's move toward European Union membership.
The bill was passed in a second reading on May 1, followed by a violent crackdown by riot police against demonstrators that ended with some 15 people being hospitalized. A parliamentary session on May 2 was subsequently canceled.
In at least eight cases on May 1, the victims claimed that, in addition to water cannons and tear gas, police also used rubber bullets. RFE/RL gathered eyewitness accounts, photographic evidence of injuries, interviewed three of the injured, and filmed the rubber bullets at the scene where they were reportedly fired.
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Freelance reporter Davit Tamazashvili showed his injuries to RFE/RL on May 2 and recalled the events of the previous night, telling RFE/RL he was adjusting his camera when shooting suddenly started and he felt three bullets hit his legs.
The evidence seen by RFE/RL is consistent with injuries caused by rubber bullets, but Deputy Interior Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze denied the use of rubber bullets against demonstrators when he addressed reporters at a press briefing.
Darakhvelidze told reporters early on May 2 that "no rubber bullets" were used by law enforcement officers, "although there were sufficient legal reasons for their use."
Georgia's Special Investigation Service said a probe into excessive force against the demonstrators was ongoing.
Nika Demurishvili, 24, who was hospitalized after protests on May 1, told RFE/RL by phone on May 3 that he was back at home after being hit in the eye by a suspected rubber bullet. He said he was still in pain and unable to open his damaged eye.
"I was wearing an gas mask that also had an eye protector" while attempting to help other protesters who had been knocked down by authorities, he said.
"It was like a rubber bullet hit me. What else could it have been.... I don't know exactly, but if it were a gas cylinder, I wouldn't have been hit directly in the face," he added.
Doctor Vako Lobzhanidze told reporters that "there is a serious injury to the [victim's] right eye, although the eye survived,” adding that it did not appear that surgery would be needed.
Eyewitness Nana Bagalishvili told RFE/RL while on Queen Tamara Avenue that she was “walking home from Heroes Square” when saw “tall men dressed in civilian clothes, likely security personnel or athletes, assaulting a man in a car, where his son, probably under 10 years old, was also present.”
"They attempted to forcibly remove the man from the car and beat him. A woman in the car was also subjected to physical assault," she said, adding that other cars and men dressed similarly in black were "assaulting rally participants of the rally.”
Nikoloz Butkhuzi told RFE/RL through Skype that he “saw four men assaulting a single person who was lying on the ground.”
He said he attempted to aid the fallen person before the men turned their attempt to him.
“They assaulted everyone indiscriminately. It was deliberate and premeditated,” he said.
Not all claims from the streets can immediately be independently verified.
The May 1 demonstration -- one of the largest the country has ever seen -- took place after the legislation was advanced in a second reading. A third and final reading is expected on May 17.
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A large protest against the bill is currently being planned for May 11, one of the organizers told RFE/RL.
“I want you to remember this date. Let’s all organize a very large demonstration on May 11. A large, peaceful, strong, confident manifestation. Put it on your calendars,” the unnamed organizer said.
UN human rights chief Volker Turk voiced concern about the authorities' treatment of protesters. Turk also urged authorities to withdraw the bill and engage in dialogue with civil society and journalists, who risk being affected by the proposed legislation.
"I am concerned by reports of unnecessary and disproportionate use of force by law enforcement personnel against demonstrators and media workers in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, this week," he said.
A wave of anger has washed across Georgia since the ruling Georgian Dream party said it was reintroducing a slightly modified version of legislation that protests forced it to back away from last year.
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Explainer: Why Are Mass Protests Shaking Tbilisi?
Critics call the bill "the Russian law," a reference to the "foreign agent" law in Russia that the government in Moscow has used to silence its critics. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, who has distanced herself from the policies of the ruling party, has promised to veto the law if it is formally adopted in a third reading, as expected.
The Georgian Foreign Ministry on May 2 refused an invitation from the United States to speak directly with U.S. officials, U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan said.
"Recently, we have invited senior members of the Georgian Government to engage directly with the most senior leaders in the United States to discuss our strategic partnership and any concerns with U.S. assistance; unfortunately, the Georgian side chose not to accept this invitation," she said in a statement on X, formerly Twitter.
A statement from the Georgian Foreign Ministry said the invitation was rejected because there was a condition that the parliament temporarily stop the discussion of the draft law. This prerequisite "does not correspond to the spirit of partnership," the ministry statement said.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze later accused the United States of making "false" statements over the controversial law, saying Washington's words are similar to previous statements that "encouraged" violence during other times of unrest in the Caucasus nation.
Dunnigan's statement, which also urged Georgia to "recommit the country to its Euro-Atlantic future, as written in Georgia’s constitution," makes no reference to any conditions for holding talks.