(3 May 2024)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tbilisi, Georgia – 3 May 2024
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Various of protesters marching in central Tbilisi
2. Close of sign reading (English) "No to Russian law"
3. Various of protesters marching
4. Mid of protest
5. SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Sergi Gigani, activist:
"You feel the vibe here. Of course, they couldn’t exhaust people when there’s a choice between authoritarianism and democracy, between freedom of speech and slavery. We’ve always been united in decisive moments and fought. They, (the ruling Georgian Dream Party) have started the same fight that led the National Movement (the previous ruling party) to lose in 2012. They will lose too."
6. Protester addressing police with megaphone
7. SOUNDBITE (Georgian) Nanka Kalatozishvili, actor:
"The motivation behind the decision to reintroduce the law, despite the promise that it would not happen, is clearly Russian-style, even before examining the law itself. This law is a total blockade of freedom of speech and different points of view. The timing of its reintroduction before the elections raises questions: why now and not after the elections, especially when we all desire fair and free elections? This leads to suspicion, particularly considering how similar laws have evolved in Russia."
8. Protesters holding Georgian flags
9. Close of protester holding flare
10. Protesters standing in front of police
11. Police
STORYLINE:
Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Tbilisi on Friday night, demanding the withdrawal of the so-called Russian law.
Demonstrations in Tbilisi have been ongoing for weeks now, since the ruling Georgian Dream party decided to introduce the bill to Parliament for adoption.
The legislature approved a second reading of the bill on Wednesday, which would require media and non-commercial organizations to register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if they receive more than 20% of funding from abroad.
"You feel the vibe here. Of course, they couldn’t exhaust people when there’s a choice between authoritarianism and democracy, between freedom of speech and slavery," said demonstrator Sergi Gigani.
Actor Nanka Kalatozishvili also joined Friday’s protest.
"The timing of its reintroduction before the elections raises questions: why now and not after the elections, especially when we all desire fair and free elections? This leads to suspicion, particularly considering how similar laws have evolved in Russia," she said.
The third and final reading was expected in mid-May, and it was not clear if the cancellation of Thursday’s session would affect the bill’s progress. The ruling Georgian Dream party withdrew a similar proposal last year after large crowds protested.
Protesters denounce the bill as "the Russian law" because neighboring Russia uses similar legislation to stigmatize independent news media and organizations critical of the Kremlin.
A similar bill was introduced last year, but the Georgian Dream party withdrew it amid mass protests.
===========================================================
Clients are reminded to adhere to all listed restrictions and to check the terms of their licence agreements. For further assistance, please contact the AP Archive on: Tel +44(0)2074827482 Email: info@aparchive.com.
Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AP_Archive
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/APArchives
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/APNews/
You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/6ab947618fd4444b9160047cba1a3ef3
