RFE/RL's Echo of the Caucasus broadcasts in Russian to Georgia.
Police and protesters briefly clashed outside parliament, while inside lawmakers traded punches on the legislature floor as tensions boiled over in Tbilisi after final approval was given to a contentious "foreign agent" bill that has triggered weeks of massive protests.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has backed the parliament to pass a controversial "foreign agent" bill, which is seen by many as a threat to free speech and the country's drive toward membership in the European Union.
International media and human rights organizations have appealed to Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze to withdraw a draft law on "foreign agents" and to ensure the safety of journalists and protect the freedom of the press in Georgia.
Tensions remain high in Tbilisi as a standoff continues between the government and Georgians opposed to a controversial "foreign agent" law who have been staging large protests that authorities have attempted to disperse using violent means, including rubber bullets, according to eyewitnesses.
Tens of thousands of people took to the streets in Georgia on May 2 to protest against the government's push to approve a controversial "foreign agents" bill a day after a violent protest that eyewitnesses say police attempted to disperse using rubber bullets.
Russian nationalist Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), who was sentenced to four years in prison in January on a charge of making public calls for extremist activities, will apply to join Russian troops invading Ukraine, his lawyer told the RBK news agency on April 10.
The de facto leader of Georgia's breakaway region of Abkhazia, Aslan Bzhania, signed into law a controversial deal with Moscow under which a Black Sea resort will be transferred to Russia -- a move that sparked protests after it was approved by Abkhazia's de facto parliament in an overnight session.
A Russian human rights group said on December 19 that Russian soldier Dmitry Setrakov, who fled to Armenia to avoid being sent to the war in Ukraine after he was mobilized, is currently in police custody in Russia.
Dmitry Dyomushkin, an outspoken Russian nationalist, said late on November 30 that Georgian officials prevented him from entering the country upon his arrival at the Tbilisi airport.
A group of Russian lawyers and rights defenders known as Pervy Otdel said on November 8 that Rafail Shepelev, a member of the Artpodgotovka movement, who disappeared last month in Georgia, may be in custody in Russia on terrorism charges.
Georgia's Foreign Ministry has condemned reports that Russia plans to establish a naval base in the breakaway region of Abkhazia, calling it a "blatant violation" of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Russians have commemorated the founder and leader of Wagner mercenary group Yevgeny Prigozhin on the 40th day since his death, a Russian Orthodox tradition to honor those who have passed away.
The Tbilisi City Court on September 20 resumed the trial of former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili on a charge of violently dispersing an anti-government rally in November 2007, which he and his supporters have reject as politically motivated.
Police in Istanbul reportedly detained a woman on April 14 who was allegedly involved in the assassination of the Russian ambassador to Ankara, Andrei Karlov, in 2016.
The lawyer for the arrested ex-leader of Kremlin-backed separatists in Ukraine, Igor Girkin (aka Strelkov), says the materials of his client’s case have been classified as "top secret."
The cruise ship Astoria Grande, with some 800 mostly Russian passengers on board, was met with fresh protests as it arrived in the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi early on July 31 on its way back from Istanbul.
The Astoria Grande cruise ship, carrying some 800 passengers including Russians, was forced to leave the Georgian Black Sea port of Batumi on July 27 upon arriving there the same day from the Russia port of Sochi, after groups of Georgians protested its presence there.
Georgian Airways plans to launch transit flights for Russians via Tbilisi to several destinations in Europe, a move likely to raise the ire of Washington and Brussels, which have banned Russian airlines from entering their airspace as they look to isolate Russia over its invasion of Ukraine.
Daryana Gryaznova, a Russian rights defender who has lived in Tbilisi since May 2021, has not been allowed to reenter Georgia after she took a trip to Istanbul.
Georgian lawmakers brawled on March 6 while discussing a controversial "foreign agent" law that critics say will impact freedoms in the South Caucasus nation.
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