Georgian parliament adjourns session over damage to building in protests

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The Georgian parliament adjourned its plenary session on Thursday due to damage caused to the building during protests the day before.

The legislative body said the heightened security measures taken on Wednesday would remain in place until 2 p.m. local time (GMT1000).

"Following the assault on the Georgian parliament building by participants of the May 1 protest, extensive damage was inflicted on the building and its infrastructure. Consequently, all scheduled events including the bureau and plenary session, will not proceed today, May 2," the parliament's press service said.

Scheduled for Thursday was a presentation by Foreign Minister Ilia Darchiashvili on the progress of his ministry's work.

The parliament passed the second reading of the foreign agents bill, Transparency of Foreign Influence, a move contested by President Salome Zurabishvili and the opposition. Three readings are needed to adopt the bill.

This legislation has also faced opposition from the West, which deems it a hindrance to the republic's European Union integration efforts.

Opposition groups and civil society activists have been staging protests in Tbilisi against the bill since April 15.