Mass Protests in Georgia Against Controversial Bill

Tens of thousands of people rallied in Georgia against a controversial "foreign influence" bill, after parliament advanced the measure that Brussels had warned would harm Tbilisi's long-standing European aspirations.

The Black Sea Caucasus nation has been gripped by mass anti-government protests since April 9, after the ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced plans to pass a law, which critics say resembles repressive Russian legislation used to silence dissent.

The bill cleared its second reading in parliament with a vote of 83 to 23, a day after police violently broke up a demonstration against it, firing tear gas, water cannon and rubber bullets, and beating and arresting scores of people.

EU chief Ursula von der Leyen condemned the violence and urged Georgia to stay on the path to Europe.

Waving Georgian and European Union flags, tens of thousands of demonstrators gathered in the evening outside parliament. Georgia's national anthem and the EU's "Ode to Joy" were performed at the rally.

Parliament said in a statement that it had "activated the red level of security due to the attack on the parliament building, which poses a threat to the lives and health" of those inside.

There were no attempts to attack the building, except when a group of youths shook its massive gate.

The interior ministry said police had used "special means provided by the law -- pepper spray and water cannons -- in order to restore law and order".

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze criticized Western politicians and diplomats for "slandering" the bill, which will only "boost transparency of NGO's foreign funding in accordance with European values."

He accused Georgian civil groups of trying to stage revolutions "at least twice in the last three years" with Western funding.