(1 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tbilisi – 1 May 2024
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Protesters moving rubbish bins to use as barricade
2. Protesters with fire in background
3. Various of protesters as police disperse water cannons at Parliament entrance, protesters using bins as shields
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Giga Bokeria, chairman of European Georgia Party:
"What is happening now is that we hear from protesters, activists, youth, and not only youth— not just a slogan ‘no to Russian law,’ but a logical conclusion— no to the Russian regime. And this is the end of this regime. Now our goal as a society is to do this with as few risks as possible. For that, we need consensus, these numbers to only grow, and not to diminish, and to have the patience to continue until this regime will be democratically removed. This is our strategic goal for the nation in this historic moment. This government, this regime, this oligarch, to be more precise, is the threat to our national security, to our national identity, for our historic choice. It is the threat to Georgia as part of Western civilisation."
5. Various of mass rally at Tbilisi central square
STORYLINE:
Thousands continued to protest late Wednesday evening in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi as the country’s Parliament moved closer to adopting a controversial law that critics fear will stifle media freedom and endanger the country’s European Union membership bid.
Police used water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray against the tens of thousands of protesters who thronged surrounding streets.
In footage captured by The Associated Press, protesters were seen approaching the entrance of Parliament using rubbish bins as shields while police fired water cannons.
European Georgia Party chairman Giga Bokeria said the government was a threat to Georgian national identity and security.
"We need consensus, these numbers to only grow, and not to diminish, and to have the patience to continue until this regime will be democratically removed. This is our strategic goal for the nation in this historic moment," he added.
Dozens of people were arrested the night before, and mass rallies continue daily in the capital, Tbilisi.
Protesters have denounced the bill as “the Russian law” because neighbouring Russia uses similar legislation to stigmatise independent news media and organisations critical of the Kremlin.
The law would require media and noncommercial organisations to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power,” if they receive more than 20% of funding from abroad.
The ruling Georgian Dream party withdrew a similar proposal last year after large crowds protested.
Eighty-three of Georgia’s 150 lawmakers approved the bill in its second reading, while 23 voted against it.
A third and final vote in Parliament is needed before it can be signed into law.
Georgian lawmaker Irakli Kobakhidze told reporters on Wednesday that he expected that final vote to happen in mid-May.
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