Second arrest made over torching of police car
Fact: A second arrest was made in connection with the torching of a police car in Limassol on Easter Saturday night.
Tear gas
Police car torched by 100 youths
A police car was completely destroyed on Easter Saturday night after being set on fire by youths with Molotov cocktails. About 100 people attacked riot police with Molotov cocktails, firecrackers, and rocks, leading to the destruction of one police vehicle and damage to four others. No arrests have been made yet, but police found two bottles of flammable liquid at the scene.
Georgian police disperse protesters as parliament approves ‘foreign bill’ second reading
Georgia’s parliament approved a bill on “foreign agents” that requires organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence. The bill has caused a political crisis in Georgia, leading to large protests in the country. President Zourabichvili advised protesters to focus on the upcoming election to change the government. The bill has been criticized as being inspired by Russian laws used to suppress dissent. The European Union has condemned the violence in Georgia, and the bill could affect Georgia’s integration into the EU. Police used tear gas and stun grenades to clear protesters outside parliament. The bill must pass one more vote before becoming law.
Turkish police fire tear gas and detain dozens of May Day protesters in Istanbul
Turkish riot police used tear gas and rubber bullets to disperse May Day demonstrators attempting to reach Istanbul’s Taksim Square. Dozens of protesters were detained, and President Erdogan had previously stated that the square would not be open for the annual protests. Despite the ban, workers and labor union members gathered in Sarachane neighborhood to march against inflation and economic difficulties. Over 42,000 police officers were deployed in Istanbul for the demonstrations, which have historically been held in Taksim Square.