Easter Vigil Peaceful In Georgia Following Nights Of Mass Protests

Georgians gather in Tbilisi on May 4 for an Easter vigil, with many shouting, "No to the Russian law."

Anti-government protests were held in a mostly calm atmosphere in the early morning of May 5, as Georgians marked Orthodox Easter in a rainy capital city following three nights of mass rallies that were often met with violence by security forces.

Several thousand Georgians marked Easter with a candlelight vigil outside the parliament building late on March 4 and into the morning with no disturbances or arrests reported.

Tens of thousands of Georgians have been protesting in recent days against the ruling Georgian Dream party's plan to introduce what's been called a "Russian-style foreign agents law," which critics say mirrors one used by the Kremlin to silence dissent.

The bill states that media, nongovernmental organizations, and other nonprofits must register as "pursuing the interests of a foreign power" if more than 20 percent of their funding is derived from abroad.

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The government insists the law would be in line with EU standards and is only intended to increase "transparency" and prevent "harmful foreign influence" in the country's political scene.

European Union leaders say implementation of the law would adversely affect Georgia's hopes of eventual EU membership, and condemnation has also come from the United States -- the former Soviet republic's biggest backer in recent years.

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Following three nights of mass protests in which more than 100 people were arrested and dozens injured, demonstrators late on May 4 gathered along Tbilisi's Rustaveli Avenue, blocking traffic on the capital's main road, as an Easter vigil was conducted at the Kashveti Church.

Many were holding Georgian and EU flags and singing Easter songs, while activists were seen distributing food and traditional Easter eggs and cakes.

"It is the most extraordinary Easter I have ever witnessed," activist Lika Chachua was quoted by AP as saying.

"The feeling of solidarity is overwhelming, but we should not forget about the main issue," she added, referring to the government's proposed legislation, which is likely to have its final reading in parliament on May 17.

Lawyer Lasha Tkesheladze told RFE/RL that three of his clients arrested during a May 2 rally had been released.

Tkesheladze, a member of the United National Movement, alleged that many detainees had been "inhumanely" treated and kept in isolation while in custody.

Many detainees were "abused by the police. This violence equals torture," he said.

The allegations could not be independently verified.

In at least eight cases during May 1 protests, victims claimed that, in addition to water cannons and tear gas, police also used rubber bullets. RFE/RL gathered eyewitness accounts, photographic evidence of injuries, interviewed three of the injured, and filmed the rubber bullets at the scene where they were reportedly fired.

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The authorities denied the use of rubber bullets.

Georgia Dream attempted to introduce the law in 2023 but was forced to back down following mass protests. It is pushing it through parliament again following minor wording changes.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has split with the government and has voiced support for peaceful protests against the legislation.

She has described the bill as "a Russian law by essence," and said the government was "prone to making concessions to Russia" and was attempting to replicate "the way Russia has managed to really repress the civil society."

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EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell has called the plan to reintroduce the law "a very concerning development" and warned that "final adoption of this legislation would negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path."

The EU in December officially granted Georgia candidate status to join the bloc. Polls have suggested that support for EU membership among Georgians last year stood at nearly 90 percent.

Russia remains a sensitive topic in Georgia. Its forces invaded Georgia in 2008 in support of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, two breakaway Georgian regions that Moscow subsequently recognized as independent states.
With reporting by RFE/RL's Georgian Service and AP