Europe live: EU warns Georgia 'foreign agents' bill threatens its chances to join bloc - as it happened

US ambassador reiterates concern, says Georgian officials declined to engage

The US ambassador in Tbilisi has just issued a statement.

"Some in the ruling party have chosen to attack the greatest supporters of Georgia's sovereignty, the United States and the European Union," Robin Dunnigan said, noting that senior Georgian officials have declined an invitation to engage.

"We urge the Georgian government to recommit the country to its Euro-Atlantic future, as written in Georgia's constitution. The United States remains committed to our enduring relationship and wants only peace, stability, and prosperity for the Georgian people."

Statement from Ambassador Dunnigan

I am deeply concerned that in recent weeks the Georgian government's choices have moved the country away from its Euro-Atlantic future, a destination desired by the overwhelming majority of Georgians. Unfortunately, the ruling party appears…

— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) May 2, 2024

Levan Tsutskiridze, executive director of the Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy, said in an update on protests that "yesterday, our numbers surpassed any day before since we began to counteract the Russia-inspired 'transparency of foreign influence law,' known in Georgia as the 'Russian law'".

"The protest is growing. Yesterday, we witnessed unprecedented self-mobilization and crowdfunding from various cities: Batumi, Kutaisi, Telavi and other cities to get together and arrive in Tbilisi for protests," he said.

Update from #TbilisiProtests and I will try to keep this more regular as time allows:

- yesterday, our numbers surpassed any day before since we began to counteract the Russia-inspired "transparency of foreign influence law," known in Georgia as the "Russian law"

— Levan Tsutskiridze (@LTsutskiridze) May 2, 2024

British minister of state Nus Ghani said she is "following events in Georgia closely."

"Excessive use of force by police against peaceful protesters in Tbilisi is not in line with democratic values and risks Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. I urge the authorities to exercise restraint," Ghani said.

I am following events in Georgia closely. Excessive use of force by police against peaceful protesters in Tbilisi is not in line with democratic values and risks Georgia's Euro-Atlantic aspirations. I urge the authorities to exercise restraint.

— Nus Ghani MP (@Nus_Ghani) May 2, 2024

European Union official warns Georgia 'foreign agents' bill threatens its EU chances

An EU official in Georgia has said that the proposed 'foreign agents' bill unacceptable and that adoption of the bill would create a very serious obstacle to Georgia joining the bloc, Reuters reported.

Gert Jan Koopman, director general of the European Commission's enlargement directorate, said the Georgian government still has time to change course.

France's Macron doesn't rule out troops for Ukraine

In an interview with The Economist, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, stood by earlier comments that Europe should not rule out putting troops in Ukraine.

Asked if he stands by what he said about possibly sending ground troops to Ukraine, Macron said: "Absolutely. As I said, I'm not ruling anything out, because we are facing someone who is not ruling anything out."

The French leader said:

We have undoubtedly been too hesitant by defining the limits of our action to someone who no longer has any and who is the aggressor!

Our capacity is to be credible, to continue to help, to give Ukraine the means to resist. But our credibility also depends on a capacity to deter by not giving full visibility as to what we will or will not do. Otherwise we weaken ourselves, which is the framework within which we have been operating until now.

In fact, many countries said that in the weeks that followed that they understood our approach, that they agreed with our position and that this position was a good thing.

Macron also said he has "a clear strategic objective: Russia cannot win in Ukraine."

"If Russia wins in Ukraine, there will be no security in Europe," he stressed, adding:

Who can pretend that Russia will stop there? What security will there be for the other neighbouring countries, Moldova, Romania, Poland, Lithuania and the others?

And behind that, what credibility for Europeans who would have spent billions, said that the survival of the continent was at stake and not have given themselves the means to stop Russia?

So yes, we mustn't rule anything out because our objective is that Russia must never be able to win in Ukraine.

Nicolas Schmit, the Socialists' lead candidate in the European elections, said he is "deeply concerned" by the violence in Tbilisi.

I am deeply concerned by the violences in Tbilisi as a reaction to protests against the law on foreign interference.

We support the Georgian people in their fight for fundamental rights and their European aspirations.

— Nicolas Schmit, PES lead candidate (@NSchmitPES) May 2, 2024

In a statement late yesterday, the US state department said Georgia's western trajectory is at risk.

"The United States condemns the Kremlin-inspired 'foreign influence' legislation advanced in Georgia's parliament earlier today and the false narrative government officials have adopted to defend it," the state department said.

"Members of the ruling party have been clear that the intent of the law is to silence critical voices and destroy Georgia's vibrant civil society, which serves as a critical check on government in any democratic nation," it added.

Washington is also stressing that the current crisis is impacting Georgia's future prospects.

"This legislation and Georgian Dream's anti-Western rhetoric put Georgia on a precarious trajectory. The statements and actions of the Georgian government are incompatible with the democratic values that underpin membership in the EU and NATO and thus jeopardize Georgia's path to Euro-Atlantic integration," the state department said.

"Comments mischaracterizing foreign assistance in Georgia - which we have provided for 32 years to strengthen Georgia's economy, democracy, and ability to deter Russian aggression - fundamentally undermine the strong relationship we have developed with the government and people of Georgia," it noted.

The statement added:

Use of force to suppress peaceful assembly and freedom of speech is unacceptable, and we urge authorities to allow non-violent protesters to continue to exercise their right to freedom of expression.

Jan Lipavský, the Czech foreign minister, also condemned violence against protesters.

"The law on transparency of foreign influence is not in line with Georgia's European aspirations. The right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right that Georgian authorities must respect," he said.

I condemn all violence against the protesters in Georgia. The law on transparency of foreign influence is not in line with Georgia's European aspirations. The right to peaceful assembly is a fundamental human right that Georgian authorities must respect.

— Jan Lipavský (@JanLipavsky) May 2, 2024

'The ball is in Georgia's court': Top EU Commission official meets with Georgia's opposition

The European Commission's Gert Jan Koopman, head of the directorate-general for neighbourhood and enlargement negotiations, is in Georgia and met with the country's president and opposition parties.

"The EU will spare no effort - but the ball is in Georgia's court!" he said.

Gitanas Nausėda, the Lithuanian president, condemned violence against protesters in Georgia.

"I strongly condemn violent attacks on pro-European protesters by Georgian authorities. Georgia's government is pushing the country into a backslide& undermining its European perspective," he warned.

"Georgia belongs in Europe. Georgian people chose European future& nobody has the right to take it away from them," the Lithuanian leader added.

I strongly condemn violent attacks on pro-European protesters by Georgian authorities.🇬🇪 government is pushing the country into a backslide& undermining its 🇪🇺 perspective. #Georgia belongs in Europe.🇬🇪 people chose European future& nobody has the right to take it away from them.

— Gitanas Nausėda (@GitanasNauseda) May 2, 2024

Elina Valtonen, the Finnish foreign minister, said "worrying scenes in Georgia. Violence against peaceful protestors is not acceptable."

She added:"Georgia was granted EU candidate status and we expect Georgia to stay on that path, which is the people's choice. People have the right to demonstrate against the law on foreign influence."

Worrying scenes in Georgia. Violence against peaceful protestors is not acceptable. Georgia was granted EU candidate status and we expect Georgia to stay on that path, which is the people's choice. People have the right to demonstrate against the law on foreign influence.

— Elina Valtonen (@elinavaltonen) May 2, 2024

Georgia's parliament yesterday approved the second reading of the controversial "foreign agents" bill, which has fuelled a political crisis and massive protests.

Reuters reported that police fired tear gas and stun grenades to clear a large crowd of protesters opposed to the draft law.

11 people, including six police officers, had received hospital treatment after Wednesday's altercations, according to Georgia's health ministry.

'Their voices must be heard': UK calls for right to protest to be respected

The British embassy in Georgia said today that "we continue to watch unfolding events very closely."

"The people of Georgia are loud and clear in their wish to become members of Euro-Atlantic family. Their voices must be heard. Their right to peaceful protest must be respected," it added.

We continue to watch unfolding events very closely.

The people of Georgia are loud and clear in their wish to become members of Euro-Atlantic family. Their voices must be heard. Their right to peaceful protest must be respected@MarkClaytonFCDO

— UK in Georgia (@UKinGeorgia) May 2, 2024

Georgia cancels parliament session amid massive protests

Georgia's parliament cancelled its planned plenary session for today following large protests against a "foreign agents" bill that has raised concerns that country is moving away from democratic norms and closer to Moscow.

The parliament's announcement said the cancellation was connected to damage the building suffered during Wednesday protests, the Associated Press reported.

Welcome to the blog

Good morning and welcome back to the Europe blog, where today we will focus on the latest in Georgia.

Send tips and comments to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.