Special forces and special equipment, including a water jet machine, are mobilized near the Georgian Parliament where a rally is being held against the adoption of the Russian law.
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The Internal Affairs Ministry issued a statement urging demonstrators not to exceed the norms established by the law on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.
"If the participants of the rally do not obey the lawful demands of the police, and exceed the norms established by the law on freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, law enforcement officers will use special means provided for by the law to maintain order. The Internal Affairs Ministry will take appropriate legal action within the framework of the law for each case of violation," the Internal Affairs Ministry stated.
The police have also begun arresting participants in the peaceful protest.
The Parliament Legal Affairs Committee meeting which began at 10:00 in the morning, the discussion of the Russian law on so-called agents is underway. According to the Parliament Speaker's decision, accredited journalists from online media outlets were banned from entering the legislative body. The committee chairman, Anri Okhanashvili, expelled some opposition MPs from the discussion.
Georgian Dream returned the draft law on so-called foreign agents, which it had rejected a year ago in March, as a result of a large-scale public protest, and promised to withdraw it "unconditionally, without any reservations" from the parliament. The text of the draft law remained the same - only "agent of foreign influence" was replaced by the term "organization carrying out the interests of a foreign power". The ruling party intends to pass the Russian law before the end of the spring session, even though it could damage Georgia's European integration process.
