Georgian parliament backs ‘Russian-style’ foreign agents law despite major protests – POLITICO

While Ivanishvili devoted his speech to denouncing enemies attacking Georgia, he did not name Russia, even though Moscow occupies 20 percent of Georgian territories, supporting local proxies in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

He also promised that the United National Movement, Georgia’s largest bloc of opposition lawmakers, would face “harsh political and legal reckoning” following October’s national elections.. Brussels said tackling political polarization was a key condition for Georgia to one day become an EU member.

“A free, independent and sovereign Georgia, member of the EU, a united and undivided Georgia,” Ivanishvili said. “This is our Georgian dream, which we will definitely realize together.”

Even though thousands of people attended the pro-government protest, critics say their presence is not representative of how many Georgians feel.

“Georgian Dream has many administrative powers that it abuses and there is evidence of this. They threaten people that if they do not join the protests, they will lose their jobs,” said Tinatin Akhvlediani, a Georgian analyst with the Brussels-based Center for European Policy Studies.

Protests are expected to continue, despite a large police presence and high-profile violence against demonstrators in Tbilisi.

“I have been protesting every evening for weeks,” said Luka, a 22-year-old student who joined the crowd forming in front of Parliament. “I will continue to protest until they listen to us.”

This article has been updated with statements from Ursula von der Leyen and Salomé Zourabichvili, and details of police brutality outside the Georgian parliament.