Tens of thousands of people gathered in Tbilisi for a second evening of protests on 8 March against Georgia’s draft foreign agent law.

Protesters attempted to place the parliament under siege, blocking the entrances in order to prevent the ruling Georgian Dream party from voting through the bill.

Police responded with force, deploying pepper spray, tear gas, and water cannons to push protesters back.

Thousands of riot police continued to push protesters back in multiple directions away from the parliament building using force.

Protesters set up barricades along the central Rustaveli Avenue in an attempt to slow down the police advance. As tear gas was deployed, protesters would withdraw, before returning to confront police again and again.

As police used sonic weapons on protesters, some put on headphones and held a ‘silent’ disco amidst the noise.

Meanwhile, other groups of protesters continued to roam the city centre, blocking streets including a major highway outside the Public Service Hall.

Protesters remained largely peaceful, continuing to return to face police. Some threw rocks and fireworks at police, and on at least one occasion, a Molotov cocktail. Several cars believed to belong to police or the State Security Service were overturned, one of which was set on fire.

By around 06:00, police had pushed protesters all the way to Rustaveli Metro. The protest ended for the night soon after.

Hours after the protests ended, Georgian Dream announced they were dropping the draft foreign agent laws. While continuing to insist the laws were necessary, the party cited the outpouring of anger towards them.

Read more: Georgian foreign agent law to be dropped after second night of protests rock Tbilisi