Thousands of demonstrators filled the streets of Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi, on Monday in a final effort to prevent the government from passing a contentious "Kremlin-style" law on foreign influence. The proposed legislation has sparked fresh violence and confrontations between protesters and police.

Hundreds of masked police officers clashed with protesters outside Georgia’s Parliament as some demonstrators attempted to block lawmakers from entering the building. The scenes turned chaotic as police used force to disperse the crowd.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry reported that two American citizens and one Russian national were among the 20 people detained at the rally. Additionally, Georgia’s Special Investigation Service announced an investigation into allegations of "excessive force" used by law enforcement officers against the protesters. Despite the unrest, security officers have since retreated from the main square.

The controversial foreign influence bill requires media outlets, nonprofits, and other nongovernmental organizations to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. Critics argue that this bill mirrors Russian legislation used to suppress independent media and activists critical of the Kremlin. Russia currently occupies about 20% of Georgia’s internationally recognized territory.

Opposition lawmakers in Georgia have vehemently condemned the proposed law, warning that it could jeopardize the country’s aspirations to join the European Union. The legislation has been described as a significant threat to Georgia’s democratic values and its alignment with Western institutions.

White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan expressed deep concern over the weekend about the potential democratic regression in Georgia. “Parliamentarians face a critical choice — whether to support the Georgian people’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations or pass a Kremlin-style foreign agents’ law that runs counter to democratic values,” Sullivan said in a statement on the social media platform X.

Demonstrations against the bill have been some of the largest seen in Georgia since it declared independence from the Soviet Union over 30 years ago. Protesters, many of whom had been demonstrating since late Sunday evening, clashed with riot police over the proposed legislation. The demonstrators carried Georgian and European Union flags and held signs with messages such as “Take your hands off my future.”

The ruling government of Georgia has remained steadfast in its commitment to pushing the bill forward despite the widespread opposition and mass protests. Final voting on the bill is scheduled for Tuesday.

In addition to the domestic backlash, the proposed law has drawn significant international criticism. The European Union and the United States have both expressed concerns that the legislation would undermine democratic principles and hinder Georgia’s progress towards European integration. The U.S. and EU have been strong supporters of Georgia’s democratic development and its aspirations to join Western institutions.

The tensions have also highlighted the broader geopolitical struggle in the region, with Russia’s influence being a central point of contention. The proposed law is seen by many as an attempt by the Georgian government to align more closely with Moscow, potentially at the expense of its European ambitions.

Protesters and opposition leaders are calling for continued demonstrations and urging the international community to apply pressure on the Georgian government to abandon the bill. As the situation develops, the outcome of the final vote on Tuesday will be crucial in determining the future direction of Georgia’s political landscape and its international relations.