Protests in Georgia on March 8: security forces partially disperse rally and detain protesters en masse

This was reported by Georgia Online.

According to the publication, special forces managed to partially disperse the rally on Rustaveli Avenue and occupy the square opposite the parliament. Nevertheless, the media reports mass detentions of protesters, there are victims. Many of the protesters have sheltered in the Kashveti Church, where they are being given first aid.

After another violent dispersal, some of the protesters returned to Rustaveli Avenue and began to build barricades. The security forces are once again trying to disperse them, using water cannons, tear gas and light and noise grenades.

In the evening of March 8, the Georgian people continued to protest near the parliament building. The protesters continue to demand the repeal of the bill on so-called foreign agents. Around 11 pm Georgian time, special forces began to disperse the protesters with water cannons, tear gas and pepper spray.

"The situation near the parliament is tense at the moment. Demonstrators are protecting themselves from the special forces with iron barriers," the locals wrote.

The Georgian Interior Ministry issued a statement on the protests the day before. They called for law and order to be maintained - not to exceed the norms established by the law on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly. 

In total, police detained at least 76 protesters on March 7-8.

Timeline of events on March 7:

• On March 7, the Georgian parliament approved in the first reading the draft law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence," which largely imitates the Russian law on foreign agents. Consideration of the draft law on March 7 came as a surprise; it was originally planned to be introduced on March 9. After that, protests broke out in the country. Police fired tear gas at protesters. On the morning of March 8, 66 protesters were reportedly detained near the parliament building. The opposition announced new protests.

• The EU warned Georgia of "serious consequences" if the draft law on "foreign agents" is finally adopted.

• The Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it stood in solidarity with the Georgian people at the protests in Tbilisi and shared the EU's position on the draft law on "foreign agents."

• On March 8, Volodymyr Zelenskyy wished Georgia democratic success, commenting on the ongoing protests in the country.