Thousands rally in Tbilisi against controversial bill

(8 Mar 2023)

FOR CLEAN VERSION SEE STORY NUMBER: 4423017

ASSOCIATED PRESS
Tbilisi, Georgia - 07 March 2023
++NIGHT SHOTS++
1. Wide police using teargas zoom in, zoom out
HEADLINE: Thousands rally in Tbilisi against controversial bill
2. Wide various of demonstrators, zoom in to demonstrators
ANNOTATION: Georgian authorities on Tuesday clashed with protesters who oppose a proposed law some see as stifling freedom of the press in the capital Tbilisi.
3. Various of police
ANNOTATION: The authorities used tear gas and a water cannon outside the parliament building.
ANNOTATION: The law would require some foreign-funded media outlets and NGOs to register as “agents of foreign influence.”
4. Mid of protester putting Georgian flag in front of riot police
ANNOTATION: International organizations have voiced concern over the draft law, saying it runs against Georgia’s democratic development.
5. Various of police arresting protesters
ANNOTATION: Hundreds of people have been massing for days to protest the proposed law, and a fight broke out at one point among lawmakers.
6. Wide of protesters
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Grigol Vashadze, MP from opposition:
"I do call (on) the entire west, stand with Georgian people, help us. We need your help, we need sanctions (against Georgian Dream ruling party), we need exactly immediate reaction from your side. This is Putinist regime. And we need help from your side.”
8. Wide of protest
ANNOTATION: Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has said she would veto the bill, but its authors say it's needed for the transparency of foreign-financed entities.
9. Wide of protesters
ANNOTATION: Parliament can override presidential vetoes.
10. Wide of police
11. Various of protesters
ANNOTATION: The U.S. and the European Union have warned Georgia that by adopting this law it would harm its prospects of joining the EU and NATO.
12. Zoom out of riot police using water cannon

STORYLINE:
Georgian authorities in Tbilisi late on Tuesday detained dozens of protesters following clashes with riot police during a demonstration against a proposed law accused of targeting press freedom.

Police were seen using tear gas and water cannon outside government buildings against protesters who oppose a proposed law some see as stifling freedom of the press.

The law, which has received initial approval, would require media outlets and nongovernmental organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as “agents of foreign influence.”

International organizations have voiced concern over the draft law, saying it runs against Georgia’s democratic development.

Thousands of people have been massing for days to protest the proposed law, and a fight broke out at one point among lawmakers.

A police statement said several law enforcement officers were injured. Protesters have also reported injuries.

While Georgia's president, Salome Zurabishvili, has said she would veto the bill, its authors say it's needed for the transparency of the work of entities financed by representatives of foreign states.

Parliament can override presidential vetoes.

The United States and the European Union have warned Georgia that by adopting this law it would harm its prospects of joining the EU and NATO

AP video by Zara Muradov

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