(2 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tbilisi – 2 May 2024
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Various of rally in front of Parliament, people waving flags and holding signs
2. Protesters applauding, holding signs
3. Youth protesters moving in circles at main road junction
4. Traffic jam
5. Man writing on wall (English): "No to Russia"
6. SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Irakli Kvirikadze, actor:
"Our plan is not to stop until the law is withdrawn. I do not know what will happen, but we know what our duty is and you can see the result of it (pointing to the people) and this will continue until we reach our goal."
7. Pan of protesters blocking main road junction
STORYLINE:
Thousands of protesters marched in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi and blocked a main road junction on Thursday evening, demanding the withdrawal of a controversial law.
Protesters initially gathered in front of the Parliament but decided to spread themselves throughout the city.
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.
"Our plan is not to stop until the law is withdrawn," actor and protester Irakli Kvirikadze said.
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 Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told reporters on Wednesday that he expected the final vote to happen in mid-May.
There are fears that if the law is adopted, it will limit media freedom and derail Georgia from its pro-European path.
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