As protests continued, in which thousands of people participated, the Georgian parliament adopted the bill on the transparency of foreign influence in a second reading.
In the news in Eho Kavkaza, it was reported that 83 deputies voted in favor and 23 deputies voted against the law.
Earlier, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobahidze announced that the third and final reading vote of the bill will be held within two weeks.
At the same time, President Salome Zurabishvili, who distanced himself from the policies of the ruling Georgian Dream party, promised to veto the bill if it was accepted in the third reading.
However, it is known that the ruling party has enough votes to invalidate the presidential veto.
Before the vote, there was a small schamp in the session hall, as well as the usual accusations between the ruling Georgian Dream deputies and opposition deputies.
Levan Abyshvili, head of the opposition United National Movement, spoke with bandages on his arm and face. Habeyshvili claimed he was beaten by police officers while trying to help a young man detained by the riot police.
Abyshinvili called on representatives of the ruling party to stop the discussion of the bill until after the October 2024 elections, saying the people would make the decision after that date.
If the ruling party does not accept it, the opposition calls on citizens to go out and 'protect Georgia's national interests'.
Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, on the other hand, responded by saying that the opposition had carried out acts of violence against police officers the previous day and in recent days.
Papuashvili said, “Then you are political leaders who stand in the front row and show aggression against the police, throw stones and the like. Therefore, if you want to enter the EU, which the EU obeys the law, so obey the law!” said.
On Tuesday evening, the riot police used tear gas and pressurized water to disperse a rally on Rustaveli Street in front of parliament. According to official data, 63 people were detained.
Georgia's parliament passed the bill on foreign agents in the first reading on April 17.
The parliament's decision caused a wave of protests in front of parliament in the capital Tbilisi. Protesters called for the law not to be voted on in the second reading.
The European Parliament, on the other hand, called for the deprivation of Georgia's candidacy status for EU membership.