[WonderMomma]

Shit is kicking off in Georgia the past few days so as suggested by Whiskey, I'm creating a new mega thread for it. I will continue to post media I find here and anyone else is welcome to do the same.

Keep in mind there has also been a lot of ties to what's going on in Ukraine coming from Georgia as well. You will see and hear elements of that in some of this media.

The last two videos in this post are from today, 8 March, as protests continue.

Recent history on hostilities in Georgia:
Georgia declared it's independence in early 1991, like so many other former Soviet nations. On 7-12 August 2008 a war broke out between Georgia and Russia/Russian-backed self proclaimed republics of South Ossetia and Abkhazia after a time of worsening relations between the two countries.

Results:
Russian, South Ossetian and Abkhaz victory.
-expulsion of ethnic Georgians from South Ossetia and the Kordori Gorge in Abkhazia.
-recognition of South Ossetia and Abkhazia by Russia
-Russian military bases established in both regions
-severance of relations between Georgia and Russia

Below is an article about the clashes currently taking place:

Thousands Clash With Police In Georgia After Parliament OKs First Reading Of ‘Foreign Agents’ Law
March 07, 2023

TBILISI -- Thousands of Georgians took to the streets of central Tbilisi after the parliament passed the first reading of a controversial "foreign agent" law that critics, including the United States and EU, say will impact freedoms in the South Caucasus nation.

Riot police faced off with protesters late on March 7 in front of parliament building as demonstrators blocked Rustaveli Avenue, with some in the crowd shouting "Down with the Russian law."

As tensions soared, police used what appeared to be pepper spray on demonstrators, with several protesters breaking through barriers and some throwing items at security personnel.

Later, police -- using water cannons and tear gas and amid unconfirmed reports of stun guns being deployed -- moved to break up the protests in the early morning hours, although it was not immediately clear if protesters had left the main demonstration area or moved to other sites.

The clashes came after lawmakers voted 76-13 in the first reading of draft legislation in a ballot originally scheduled for March 9 but moved up for unexplained reasons. Second and third readings are to follow, but given the voting margin, the bill is expected to pass parliament.

The legislation, which is backed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, would require any organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from overseas to register as "foreign agents" or face substantial fines.

Critics say it mirrors Russian legislation that has restricted the work of independent journalists and democratic institutions there.

Russian influence is a sensitive issue in Georgia. Russia invaded Georgia in 2008 after which Moscow recognized South Ossetia and another region, Abkhazia, as independent countries and stationed thousands of its soldiers in those areas.

The draft law will be sent to the Council of Europe's Venice Commission, a democracy-and-rights advisory body than can offer an opinion but has no enforcement power.

On March 6, Georgian lawmakers brawled while discussing the law, and security at the parliament building was beefed up as protesters rallied in front of it, demanding consideration of the law be dropped.

President Salome Zurabishvili has said she will veto the bill, although parliament can override her veto.

Late on March 7, Zurabishvili said in a video address made while in the United States on an official visit that she supported the protesters’ demands.

"This law -- which no one needed -- does not come out of nowhere. It is something dictated by Moscow."

"The Georgia that sees its future in Europe will not allow anyone to take away this future...[it] belongs to our next generations, to all of us," she said.

The U.S. Embassy in Tbilisi responded to the March 7 vote, calling it “a dark day for Georgia’s democracy."

“Parliament’s advancing of these Kremlin-inspired laws is incompatible with the people of Georgia’s clear desire for European integration and its democratic development.”

“Pursuing these laws will damage Georgia’s relations with its strategic partners and undermine the important work of so many Georgian organizations working to help their fellow citizens. The process and the draft laws raise real questions about the ruling party’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration,” it added.

European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said the parliament action was a "very bad development" for Georgia and could negatively affect its ties with Brussels. Georgia has long had aspirations of joining the EU.

Before the vote, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International called on Georgia's parliament to rebuff the law.

"Georgia's parliament should firmly reject" the legislation, the watchdogs said in a March 7 statement, calling it "incompatible with international human rights law and standards that protect the rights to freedom of expression and association."

More than 60 media outlets and civil society groups last month vowed not to comply with the legislation if it were to pass.

[WonderMomma]

1. "Russia is trying to keep Georgia dependent on it. Putin aims to govern Georgia through his marionette politician Bidzina Ivanishvili. Today in Tbilisi people are fighting to throw off Russian chains."

2. "It is reported that protesters in Tbilisi were forced out from the central Rustaveli Avenue by special forces."

[WonderMomma]

"Local media report that more than 5,000 people are taking part in the action. They are marching to the parliament."

[WonderMomma]

"Protesters against the law on "foreign agents" in Tbilisi decided to lay siege to the parliament building after the authorities refused to fulfill their demands: to cancel the adoption of the law and release all detained protesters."

[WonderMomma]

"In Tbilisi, activists break a window in the parliament building, police again use water cannons and tear gas to disperse a rally of thousands."

[WonderMomma]

"Zelensky expressed solidarity with the protesters in Georgia, he said in his address. In turn, Georgians express solidarity with Ukraine."

[Roosta]

They do look pissed off !

[WhiskeyOutpost]

I'd say this is a rather intense protest. That was a well aimed Molotov.

[WonderMomma]

After what Russia did to them 12 years ago and after a year of watching what Russia is doing in Ukraine... not to mention what Russia has been doing in Syria... no wonder.

[WonderMomma]

"Protesters in Tbilisi erect barricades."