Riot police move in on Georgia parliament protesters

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We're going to be pausing our live coverage shortly of the protests in Georgia. Here's a quick reminder of the latest developments:

• Thousands of people protested outside parliament in Tbilisi after Georgia's parliament voted through a divisive "foreign agent" law, that sparked weeks of mass street protests
• The law will force civil society groups and media organisations to declare foreign funding which protestors say could be used to stifle dissent. It's been dubbed the "Russia law"

• There's also concern the legislation could affect Georgia's chances of joining the European Union
• The Georgian Dream party said the measure would increase transparency and defend Georgia's sovereignty

• Riot police moved in when some protestors attempted to storm the parliament, and several have been arrested
• The White House said it was "deeply troubled" by Georgia's "Kremlin-style" foreign agents law

The White House says it will "reassess" its ties with Georgia if the divisive "foreign agent" law, which was voted through the Georgian parliament today, passes.

White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre says the US is "deeply troubled by Georgia's Kremlin-style legislation", and calls on Georgia's president to veto the law.

If the legislation takes effect, "it will compel us to fundamentally reassess our relationship with Georgia," she says.

The bill would require NGOs and independent media receiving more than 20% of its funding from foreign donors to register as "bearing the interests of a foreign power".

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Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has responded to a statement made by a senior US diplomat that suggested sanctions may be imposed on the country if it went ahead with a controversial new law.

James O'Brien, US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, said the US would impose financial and travel "restrictions" over violence against peaceful protesters.

Addressing the comments, Kobakhidze said: "Pragmatically speaking, sanctions would only harm those who are imposing them.

"We do not want the US reputation to get spoiled and we call on our partners to think about partnerships."

US Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien met in Tbilisi with Georgia's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze earlier.

After the meeting, O'Brien said that if the law, approved by Georgia's parliament, on "foreign agents" goes forward without complying with EU norms, then Washington's relationship with Georgia would be at risk.

O’Brien said if there is violence against peaceful protesters, then the US will impose financial and travel restrictions on those responsible.

He said all aid from the US to Georgia would be under review if the US was viewed by the country's authorities as an adversary and not a partner.

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Maka Dzneladze from BBC Monitoring in Tbilisi has been covering the protests in recent weeks.

She says it's now an "existential moment for the country" and that there's been "strong public backlash" against the new divisive "foreign agent" law passed by parliament.

Dzneladze says she's seen reports that some protesters have been arrested, after police said they "turned violent".

She says many Georgians are asking if Georgia is pivoting away from the West towards Russia.

Parallels have been drawn between this law and a bill in Russia that came into force in 2012 that has since been used by the Kremlin to clamp down on dissidents.

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Eyewitnesses at recent protests have accused some police officers of physically attacking protesters.

Earlier this month, Levan Khabeishvili, chairman of the main opposition party United National Movement (UNM), posted a picture of his bruised face on social media and later appeared in parliament, his face heavily bandaged.

The Georgian Public Defender's office said that 22 out of 23 people who were detained in front of the parliament today have claimed they were subject to degrading treatment from the police.

Yet, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has praised the riot police and said they have acted to a standard which is “above that of American and European”.

Those opposing the law fear this could be the sign that the government is actually encouraging the police to use violence against the demonstrators.

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The president of the European Parliament says it "stands with the people of Georgia".

In a post on X, Roberta Metsola wrote: "Tbilisi, we hear you! We see you!"

She says Georgians on the streets "want a European future" and "expect European values and standards".

Georgia's president responded on X by thanking Metsola for her "personal commitment".

Salome Zourabichvili also thanked the European Parliament's "steadfast support for the Georgian people and their resolute choice of a European future".

Riot police in Georgia have responded with force as protesters attempted to storm the parliament in Tbilisi.

It comes after Georgia's parliament voted through a divisive "foreign agent" law that critics say could be used to threaten civil liberties.

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Gitanas Nauseda, the president of Lithuania, says his country stands with Georgia in its "struggle" for its European future.

Opposition parties say the passing of the controversial "foreign agent" law could harm Georgia's attempt to join the EU, which has given it candidate status. The EU has warned the bill could jeopardise further progress within the bloc.

"Nobody has the right to take your European dream away. Nobody has the right to silence the will of the people to live by European values," Nauseda posted on X.

President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen said earlier this month that Georgia was at a "crossroads" and should " stay the course on the road to Europe".

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I'm on Rustaveli Avenue, the central street of Tbilisi, marching together with hundreds of students toward the parliament.

"We won't become Russia's backyard," 22-year-old journalism student Zhorzh Zhamelashvili tells me as he walks with hundreds of his peers toward the parliament.

It has been raining the whole day, but despite that, thousands have taken to the parliament since early morning.

"No to the Russian law," the students are chanting.

They are furious that the government has passed the bill in the third hearing earlier today. Last year, students were the driving force behind the protests that caused the ruling party to call off the controversial bill.

It was Russia who forced the government to reintroduce the bill, 21-year-old Anuki, who is wrapped in an EU flag, tells me. "But they won't take away our unity and our joint dream to join the European Union," she adds.

However, not everyone on Rustaveli Avenue is that optimistic.

A young couple is holding a banner that reads: "Love your country, but never trust the government."

They refuse to share their names because, as they explain, their relative works for the government and might lose their job.

"I believe passing this bill is a major step towards authoritarianism, and it would take us years to recover from this blow," one of them tells me.

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Georgian human rights lawyer Baia Pataraia tells the BBC that there was a lot at stake over the controversial new law.

Under the bill, NGOs and independent media that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign donors would have to register as organisations "bearing the interests of a foreign power".

Critics say the bill - which they call the "Russia law" - could be used to threaten civil liberties.

"People are furious. The crowds are going out and the government tries to show force," Pataraia says.

Quote Message: They brought 4,000 policemen into the streets to counter the protesters, but I don't think that they're able to actually stop the protest because we do understand that this is not just an ordinary Russian-style legislation but now we're talking about changing of the trajectory of Georgia's foreign policy."

They brought 4,000 policemen into the streets to counter the protesters, but I don't think that they're able to actually stop the protest because we do understand that this is not just an ordinary Russian-style legislation but now we're talking about changing of the trajectory of Georgia's foreign policy."

Ruling party Georgian Dream have insisted the foreign agent bill is about ensuring transparency of funding for NGOs and other organisations operating in Georgia.

Former Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili has accused NGOs of nefarious activities, including attempting to stage revolutions in Georgia twice, of promoting "gay propaganda" and of attacking the Georgian Orthodox Church.

He has rejected the notion that the bill is against European values - or that Russia is behind the legislation.

In fact, Georgian Dream has sought to distance itself from Russia over the law. Its members have stated that saying there are similarities with the Russian law as "disinformation", and denounced Russian messaging about the protests in Georgia as inflammatory.

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The UK's minister for Europe, Nusrat Ghani, says the scenes in Georgia "are shocking - and as friends of Georgia we call for calm and restraint on all sides".

She spoke with the Georgian Ambassador earlier, to say "we are watching with deep concern", and urged the government of Georgia to "change course and withdraw this legislation".

Quote Message: Today the Georgian Parliament again voted in support of the law on transparency of foreign influence. Like our partners, the UK strongly opposes the introduction of this legislation.

Today the Georgian Parliament again voted in support of the law on transparency of foreign influence. Like our partners, the UK strongly opposes the introduction of this legislation.

Quote Message: This draft law and the accompanying orchestrated intimidation of protestors are not in line with the democratic values of a Nato-aspirant country and fundamentally risk derailing Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

This draft law and the accompanying orchestrated intimidation of protestors are not in line with the democratic values of a Nato-aspirant country and fundamentally risk derailing Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations.

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Petre Tsiskarishvili, a secretary-general of the main opposition United National Movement and a former Georgian MP, says for Georgians, a general election in October will be a decisive moment.

"The president can veto the bill but they only need a simple majority to override it within the next couple of weeks, so the turbulence on the streets, the protests and rallies, will go on to the last minute."

He says the October election is when the Georgian public should "basically go on a referendum and make a final decision which way we want to go.

Quote Message: What is the aspiration of the Georgian people? Is it the European integration or these Russia style laws and this government that initiates and tables the legislation that copies the Russian style authoritarianism."

What is the aspiration of the Georgian people? Is it the European integration or these Russia style laws and this government that initiates and tables the legislation that copies the Russian style authoritarianism."

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The BBC's Rayhan Demytrie has been speaking to some of the people at protests in Tbilisi this afternoon.

One teenage demonstrator describes the new law as a "direct threat to Georgian democracy".

Nikoloz says he believes the government's actions are "against the will of Georgian people".

"I think that this government is a proxy government of Russia, of the Kremlin," he says.

Another young protester, wrapped in a Georgian flag, says: "Our parliament called us radicals when it is the opposite. We are fighting for our freedom. We do not want Russia, we will never want Russia.

Quote Message: We are people who were born in a free, democratic Georgia and we will always keep fighting for a free, democratic Georgia."

We are people who were born in a free, democratic Georgia and we will always keep fighting for a free, democratic Georgia."

Before that controversial law was passed there were scuffles inside parliament.

MPs from the governing party reacted angrily to an opposition deputy accusing them of selling Georgia out to Russia.

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Our South Caucasus Correspondent Rayhan Demytrie is currently live in Tbilisi, the Georgian capital, and speaks to the BBC from among protestors a little way away from the main street outside Georgia's parliament.

She describes "large numbers" of riot police just having cleared the street of protestors with the water canon machine behind them - but says the protestors in their raincoats are "standing their ground".

"They believe they are standing here for Georgia's European future."

It follows the Georgian parliament passing a law on the transparency of foreign funding.

"It's seen by opponents of this law as a Russian law, they are saying it's a Russian-style law designed to stifle dissent, to silence the critical voices in this country," she says.

"Going back to 1980s, in 1989 in this very street young Georgians were killed by Russian troops as they stood up for their independence.

"They believe they can't give up now after all these years having this dream of joining the EU, breaking away from Russia."

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Since emerging from the collapsing Soviet Union as an independent state in 1991, Georgia has become the arena of conflicting interests.

Increasing US economic and political influence in the country has long been a source of concern for neighbouring Russia, as have Georgia's aspirations to join Nato and the EU.

Tense relations with Russia were further exacerbated by Moscow's support for the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, leading to a brief war in 2008.

• Capital: Tbilisi

• Area: 69,700 sq km

• Population: 3.6 million

Shortly after it was announced that the bill was approved by parliament and became law, Georgia's interior ministry put out a statement saying the protest outside the building "violated the law of assembly and manifestation and became violent."

The statement said protesters were "not complying with legal demands of police" and that it would use "special measures" to intervene.

It also urged protesters not to "artificially escalate the situation".