Former Georgian minister detained amid protests in Tbilisi
Photo: A former Georgian minister was detained in Tbilisi during the protests (Getty Images)
Former Georgian Minister for European Integration Alexi Petriashvili was detained during protests in Tbilisi against the law on foreign agents, RFE/RL's Echo of the Caucasus reports.
According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia, Petriashvili was detained under Articles 166 and 173:
- disorderly conduct;
- disobedience to police.
The situation near the Georgian parliament escalated after the protesters tried to tear down the fences. The demonstrators, for their part, want to go to the stage that was set up for the rally of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The rally, in turn, will be held today, April 29.
Today, as part of the second reading, the parliament will also begin discussions on the draft law on foreign agents. However, the timing of the vote is currently unknown.
Foreign agents law
Back in April, the Georgian parliament gave the green light to the draft law on foreign agents during the first reading, which caused outrage not only from the European Union and NATO but also from residents. As officials have repeatedly noted, the adoption of the law could become an obstacle for the country on its path to European integration.
Meanwhile, the head of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Garibashvili, said that Georgia is ready to revise or cancel the bill if the country is invited to join the EU.
