President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili addressed participants of a mass protest in the centre of Tbilisi. She expressed support for the people and called on them not to storm the parliament building, but to repeal all anti-state laws through voting in elections, according to a video message from the head of state.
Zourabichvili emphasized that she stands with the protesters.
"These protests are unusual, the whole world is watching us. Today's rally demonstrates the mood, attitude, and determination of the Georgian people. This is the greatest strength for us to win the long struggle that ends with the elections, that Georgia will never be Russia!" the president said.
The head of state also addressed the youth with fire in their hearts and asked them to stop the blockade and storming of the country's legislative body.
"Leave the gates of the parliament, nothing else is happening there, this law has already been passed in the second reading, and our struggle is no longer for this law. Our struggle is through elections and the repeal of all those laws recently passed by the authorities that take us away from our European path. This is our goal," Zourabichvili said.
She added that today is an intense week and called on the rally participants to peacefully stand up on Rustaveli Avenue and once again show the world what Georgia is, what Georgia can do, and what the youth of Georgia is capable of!
Protests in Tbilisi
In mid-April, the Georgian parliament approved in the first reading the draft law On the Transparency of Foreign Influence. The document introduces the status of foreign agents funded and controlled by foreign organizations and funds, similar to the law that has been in force in Russia for many years.
Before the document was prepared for the second reading, on April 30, thousands of people held a protest in the center of Tbilisi, during which clashes between protesters and police occurred.
However, despite the protests, on May 1, Georgian parliamentarians approved the document in the second reading. After the final, third, reading, the law will be finally adopted.
On the night of May 2, thousands of Georgians blocked the exits of the parliament and attempted to storm the building. Police used rubber bullets against the protesters.
For more details on the reasons for the mass actions, the threats to Georgia's European path, and whether the use of force will lead to a new revolution, read the article by RBC-Ukraine.