TBILISI -- Opponents of Georgia's controversial "foreign agent" bill marched in Tbilisi on March 24, expressing their opposition to the legislation and the Interior Ministry’s handling of earlier protests that turned violent.
Thousands of participants took part in the march, which started at Freedom Square and headed to the building of the Interior Ministry.
They unfurled a large banner with the words "Serve Georgia" and carried Georgian, EU, and U.S. flags.
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Georgians Demand Detainees' Release At Latest Protest Over 'Foreign Agent' Bill
Earlier demonstrations against the legislation ended in clashes, with riot police using water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets against protesters, but there was no indication of any clashes during the march on May 24.
The demonstration took place as Georgia's parliament announced that the procedure to override a presidential veto of the "foreign agent" bill would begin on May 27.
The legislature had been widely expected to announce that it would move to override President Salome Zurabishvili's veto of the legislation, which targets media and NGOs that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.
The ruling Georgian Dream has a majority in parliament sufficient to override Zurabishvili's veto and is expected to do so in a vote during the plenary session scheduled to take place on May 28.
Georgian Dream has insisted that it remains committed to joining Western institutions and the law was only meant to increase transparency on NGO funding.
Zurabishvili vetoed the bill on May 18 following weeks of mass protests by Georgians who see the legislation as a way for the government to stifle civil society and believe it endangers the country's path toward EU integration.
The legislation -- formally called the Law On Transparency Of Foreign Influence -- is also seen as mirroring a similar repressive measure introduced by the Kremlin in Russia.
European Council President Charles Michel said on May 19 that Zurabishvili's veto "offers a moment for further reflection" on the legislation and called on Georgia’s politicians and leaders "to make good use of this window of opportunity and ensure Georgia stays on the European course the population supports."
SEE ALSO: Georgian PM Says Threatened By EU Commissioner, Who Says His Comments Taken Out Of ContextThe United States has also criticized the law and said it would implement visa restrictions on Georgian government officials and undertake a comprehensive review of bilateral relations with Georgia.
SEE ALSO: U.S. To Review Relations With Georgia, Slaps Visa Bans On Officials Over 'Foreign Agent' LawThe top U.S. diplomat for Europe, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien, told reporters on May 24 in a conference call that Georgia must play by the rules if it expects to gain membership in the European Union.
“If you say you want to join a football match, you don't get to say that our side will play with 15 people and you will play with seven or we will play with an extra ball,” he said.
"You play by the rules of the club you are trying to join, and the point is that the actions being taken [by Georgia] are incompatible with the both the pursuit of membership and actually getting to membership."
Georgia was given EU candidate status on December 14 but has yet to start the accession negotiations, which can last for years.