Georgia protests latest: Police move to disperse protesters at Tbilisi parliament

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.