Thousands of Georgians defy warnings to join protest against ‘Russia’ bill

Protesters are angry at government efforts to pass a law against ‘foreign agents’ which mirrors repressive Russian legislation.

Thousands of Georgians have joined new protests in Tbilisi against a Russian-styled “foreign agents” bill, as the government insisted it would push ahead with the legislation even after some of the largest protests since independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.

Protesters began gathering at about 10.00pm (18:00 GMT) on Sunday, with many promising to spend the night outside to prevent lawmakers from entering the building for the bill’s third reading on Monday.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said earlier he aimed to pass the bill this week and threatened protesters with prosecution.

The bill requires organisations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence or face punitive fines.

Carrying European Union and Georgian flags, protesters poured onto Tbilisi’s main Rustaveli Avenue, as Georgia’s pro-EU President Salome Zurabishvili warned demonstrators to beware of “provocations”, days after some activists reported harassment and protesters were met with water cannon and tear gas.