Georgian Government Defiant As Protests Against 'Foreign Agent' Bill Continue

TBILISI -- Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has backed the parliament to pass a controversial "foreign agent" bill, which is seen by many as a threat to free speech and the country's drive toward membership in the European Union.

Georgian police arrested 20 people as they violently dispersed a rally outside parliament on May 13 as lawmakers from the ruling Georgian Dream party rushed the approval of the bill through the Legal Committee.

Kobakhidze said in a press conference after the bill cleared the committee that lawmakers will "act in accordance with the rational will of the majority of the population" and pass the bill in its final reading on May 14.

He accused the protesters of "following the agenda of the political minority" and charged that they were showing a "great irresponsibility" toward their country.

Two U.S. citizens and a Russian national reportedly were among those arrested outside parliament, although no details about their identities were immediately made public.

Security personnel used force to disperse protesters who had staged a nightlong protest outside parliament as lawmakers arrived to debate the bill in a third and final reading. The draft legislation has been condemned by the United States, the European Union, and others as mirroring a similar Russian law.

Video footage shared on social media shows several masked riot police officers taking turns as they violently beat a fallen protester before they apparently detain him.

In another video, a man whose face is bleeding is being violently detained by numerous masked men who are beating him and tearing off his shirt.

Despite the earlier violence, students during the day on May 13 held protests on central Tbilisi streets where they chanted that they would "protect the worthy future of Georgia, its independence and the country's European future."

"We will not give up the freedom of our country, the European future and the rights guaranteed by the constitution," they said while swearing an oath during the gatherings.

More students from various universities were marching toward the parliament building to continue the protests, according to RFE/RL's Georgian Service.

EU spokesman Peter Stano on May 13 praised the "loyalty" of the Georgian public "toward the European path" and criticized the government's treatment of protesters.

"What we have seen over the past few days in Georgia in terms of the response of the authorities, especially from the police, was violence," Stano said.

"We strongly condemn acts of intimidation, threats, and physical assaults against the protesters, against civil society activists, against politicians and against journalists and media workers."

For several weeks, tens of thousands of Georgians have protested against the "foreign agent" bill pushed forward by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The demonstrations have been repressed violently many times with water cannons, tear gas, rubber bullets, while being also attacked by gangs of thugs at night.

Protesters and journalists have shown injuries consistent with the use of rubber bullets, despite denials from officials that such methods have been employed against people on the streets.

SEE ALSO: 'Rubber Bullets And Beatings': Victims, Eyewitnesses Talk Of Violence Against Georgian Protesters

The massive rallies against the bill are some of the largest protests since Georgia became independent in 1991.

As Georgian Dream lawmakers arrived by car at parliament on May 13, protesters who were being pushed away shouted in their direction, “Slaves! Slaves!

Shortly after gathering in the parliament building following the violent dispersal of protesters, lawmakers in the Legal Committee took only 67 seconds to review and approve the bill, allowing it to move on to the full assembly.

Georgian 'Foreign Agent' Law Advances In 67 Seconds Amid Violent Clashes Outside

After the bill cleared the committee, Ivliane Khaindrava, an adviser to State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality Tea Akhvlediani, resigned from his post in protest.

"I resigned because I do not agree with the course that leads to civil strife," he told RFE/RL's Georgian Service in an interview.

Opposition lawmakers, who have not been allowed access to the parliament building for some time, did not attend the committee meeting.

Committee Chairman Anri Okhanashvili said the third reading only provides for editorial amendments, and none of the ruling party members proposed such amendments.

Georgian Protesters Hold Overnight Rally Ahead Of Final Reading Of Controversial Bill

In a briefing on May 12, President Salome Zurabishvili, who has come out in support of peaceful protests, strongly criticized the government and Georgian Dream leaders for not taking into account the views of the throngs of citizens on the streets.

"It's very funny when politicians pretend to be able to count with high IQs and they can't count how many people there were,” she said, adding that the government “has lost the confidence of the people."

The bill is expected to pass its final reading -- which could come as early as May 14 -- but Zurabishvili has vowed to veto it. However, a simple majority in parliament is enough to override the president's veto.

Under the terms of the proposed legislation, media outlets, NGOs, and other nonprofits would be required to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if more than 20 percent of their funding comes from abroad.

Critics say it is modeled after decade-old "foreign agent" legislation that Russian President Vladimir Putin has used to crush dissent and punish independent institutions, and EU officials have said the bill could be a significant setback to Tbilisi's membership bid.