Protesters rallying near the Georgian Parliament building were met with force on Monday (March 7) as special forces used water cannons and tear gas to disperse the crowd. The Ministry of Internal Affairs had warned participants to leave the area with a sound signal, but many continued to protest against a draft law on the "transparency of foreign influence," which passed its first reading in Parliament. The law would require non-commercial entities and media outlets receiving over 20% of their income from abroad to register as "agents of foreign influence" and disclose their funding sources. Supporters say it will enhance transparency, but critics argue it could stifle freedom of speech and civil society. The draft law on the registration of foreign agents was not discussed at Monday's session. Ambulance brigades were on hand to assist the injured, but no protesters had been taken to the hospital from the rally so far.

A water cannon was used near the Parliament building, where the protest rally is taking place.

Special forces are mobilized from both Chichinadze and Chitadze streets.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs warned the participants of the rally to leave the surrounding area with a sound signal.

The participants of the rally continue to protest.
The organizers called the participants of the rally near the Parliament to move to the Republic Square, because the special forces are firing so-called tear gas grenades from Chitadze Street.

The appeal was announced on the stage near the Parliament.

At the moment, citizens are heading towards Republic Square.
The special forces started dispersing the participants of the rally in front of the Parliament with water cannons.

Special forces fire water cannons from the streets next to the Parliament in the direction of Rustaveli Avenue.

Before that, they also used tear gas against the participants of the rally.

In parallel with the process, the law enforcement officers call on the participants of the rally gathered near the Parliament to disperse.

"Citizens, disperse, otherwise legal measures will be used to restore civil order," they urge the citizens.
There are people injured in the ongoing rally near the Parliament.

The participants of the protest were mostly injured as a result of the use of tear gas.

The ambulance brigades mobilized in the area provide assistance.

As IPN was told by the emergency medical center, at the moment, no protester has been taken to the hospital from the rally so far.

The service will release information about how many people were assisted on the spot later.
The special forces are trying to disperse the participants of the rally in front of the Parliament with tear gas.

They are heading in the direction of Rustaveli Avenue and are firing tear gas at the citizens.

A water cannon is also stationed on the spot.

Before that, the law enforcement officers called the participants of the rally near the Parliament to disperse.

"Citizens, disperse, otherwise legal measures will be used to restore civil order," they urged the citizens.
Parliament supported the draft law "on transparency of foreign influence" in the first reading. 76 deputies voted in favor of the draft law, and 13 voted against it.

Discussion of the project took place in the background of tension and controversy for several hours.

As for the second draft law on agents - "on the registration of foreign agents" - it was not discussed at today's session of the Parliament, therefore it could not be voted on.

The draft law was presented by the members of the People's Power, which is part of the majority. The initiators include Sozar Subari, Dimitri Khundadze, Mikheil Kavelashvili, Guram Macharashvili, Dachi Beraia, Viktor Japaridze, Eka Sefashvili, Davit Kacharava and Zaal Mikeladze.

Initially, the draft law on "transparency of foreign influence" was registered in the Parliament. In order to "ensure transparency", the said draft law envisages the registration of such non-entrepreneurial (non-commercial) legal entities and media outlets, whose income (more than 20%) is received from abroad, as agents of foreign influence.

According to the draft law, everyone who is considered to be an "agent of foreign influence" must be registered in the public registry in a database with the same name. At the time of registration, it will be necessary to reflect the received income. At the same time, the organizations will have the obligation to fill in the financial declaration every year.

"To identify agents of foreign influence", the draft empowers the Ministry of Justice to conduct research and study-monitoring of the issue at any time.

According to the same draft law, the basis for starting the monitoring will be the decision of the relevant authorized person of the Ministry of Justice and the written statement submitted to the Ministry of Justice, which "contains an appropriate reference related to a specific agent of foreign influence".

Avoiding registration as an agent of foreign influence or not filling out the declaration will result in the organization being fined in the amount of 25 thousand GEL. The draft also envisages the following types of fines: - 10 thousand GEL if the organization does not fill out the application form within 10 working days from the entry on the website of the Ministry of Justice; In case of non-correction of defects in the documents within the specified period - 10 thousand GEL; Committing a legal offense after one month - 20 thousand GEL.