The situation has escalated: against the backdrop of intensifying rallies, the President of Georgia made an important statement

The President of Georgia made an important statement amid rallies/Collage 24 Channel< p _ngcontent-sc90 class="news-annotation">Rallies against the law on “foreign agents” are not abating in Georgia. The situation is only getting worse, as students go on strike and protesters are being dispersed by special forces, so President Salome Zurabishvili made an important statement.

On Saturday, 11 May, a rally of many thousands against the scandalous bill on “foreign agents” also took place in Georgia. It is difficult to calculate exactly how many people came to Tbilisi Square. The media wrote about tens of thousands of protesters who again took to the square on the night of May 13.

The protests were dispersed by special forces

On May 13, the situation in Georgia worsened. Thus, protests against the law on “foreign agents” began to be dispersed by force. In particular, in the morning, special forces of the Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs began to forcefully disperse the protests, and the protesters were pushed away from the parliament building.

As they write in the media, thousands of people gathered on Rustaveli Avenue and spoke against the law on “foreign agents”. Security forces began to push them away from the entrance to parliament, declaring that they would interfere with deputies from the ruling Georgian Dream party, which is going to consider the law on “foreign agents” in the third reading. Although the protest took place peacefully, representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs warned that they would push back the protesters.

The network also published footage of clashes with protesters.

Special forces disperse protesters: watch video

Clashes near the Georgian Parliament: watch video

The President of Georgia made a statement amid the worsening situation

On the evening of May 12, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili called on the Georgian Dream party to postpone the date the entry into force of the law on “foreign agents” before November 1, 2024. Thus, she proposes to make it effective after the parliamentary elections, which are scheduled for October 26, 2024.

Zurabishvili also made it clear that she does not agree with proposals to amend the scandalous the bill is subject to veto. Moreover, the President of Georgia emphasized that she would under no circumstances enter into the game to “ennoble this law.”

This law is Russian, the methods of our government are Russian, and even today’s speech of the Prime Minister is Russian,” Zurabishvili said.

Why protests broke out in Georgia

The bill, authored by the Georgian Dream party, is a copy of the Russian law on foreign agents. This law in Russia became part of the repressive measures on the way to a totalitarian state. The purpose of the “foreign agents” law is to control and restrain the activities of foreign non-governmental organizations that are involved in civil rights in Georgia. large-scale protests, and the EU hinted that such actions would put an end to Georgia’s European integration.

Students went on strike

Students of the largest universities in Georgia also oppose the controversial bill. So, on May 13, as a sign of protest, they announced a large-scale strike.

Students from the following higher educational institutions will join the action:

• Tbilisi State University named after Javakhishvili,
• Batumi State University named after Shota Rustaveli,
• Grigol Robakidze University,
• Caucasus University,
• GIPA,
• Alte University,
• Ilia State University,
• University of Georgia,
• Georgian National University,
• Academy of Arts,
• Agricultural University,
• Free University.

Professors and teachers of the State University plan to join the strike Ilia University, GIPA and part of the teaching staff of Tbilisi State University.