Russia is disappointed that there is no bloodshed in Tbilisi - journalist Voloshyna

Journalist Larysa Voloshyna said this on Espreso TV. 

“Russia is in Georgian history. Firstly, this bill was introduced on purpose. Secondly, there was an expectation of an uprising and its suppression. It is a huge disappointment for Russia that there was no bloodshed. They are aggressively attacking the ruling party of Georgia because they did not start shooting. This is what they want. This is all done in order to be able to either send troops to Tbilisi after the fall of the government or to start some kind of mediation in the West after these shootings. It's as if a new region has sprung up. They are 30 kilometers away from Tbilisi,” she said.

According to Voloshyna, if a massacre and executions like those on Maidan had started, it would have demoralized the Georgian army and security forces.

“Russia would have been on the outskirts of Tbilisi in a few hours, just like in 2008. Not being able to win on the battlefield in Ukraine and realizing that it has lost its weight. Countries that have occupied enclaves realize that the time for de-occupation has come,” the journalist summarized.

• 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.

• On March 9, the third night of large-scale demonstrations against the scandalous "foreign agents" bill  began in Georgia. Demonstrators are demanding clarity from the authorities on how they plan to withdraw the bill on agents of foreign influence, as well as the immediate release of all detained protesters.

• After two nights of protests and the violent dispersal of demonstrators near the Georgian parliament, the Georgian authorities announced on the morning of March 9 that they were "withdrawing" the controversial "foreign agents" bill.

• On March 10, the Georgian parliament rejected the draft law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" in the second and final reading, following mass protests in the country.