Tensions ran high in the Georgian parliament as lawmakers engaged in a physical altercation during discussions over a contentious bill regarding "foreign agents."
The scene unfolded on Monday as members of the ruling Georgian Dream party pushed forward with legislation that has drawn sharp criticism both domestically and internationally.
The catalyst for the clash was a heated exchange between Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the Georgian Dream's parliamentary faction and a staunch advocate for the bill, and opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili. In a dramatic moment captured on live television, Mdinaradze found himself on the receiving end of a punch from Elisashvili while addressing the assembly.
The incident quickly escalated into a larger brawl involving multiple lawmakers, a scene not uncommon in Georgia's lively political arena. Outside the parliament building, cheers erupted among protesters as footage of Elisashvili's actions circulated widely.
The proposed legislation, which resurfaced after being shelved following protests over a year ago, seeks to require organizations receiving foreign funds to register as "foreign agents" or face penalties.
However, the bill has faced staunch opposition from Western nations, including the European Union and the United States, who view it as incompatible with democratic values.
Despite the criticism, Georgian Dream has defended the bill as necessary to safeguard against what it perceives as undue foreign influence and to promote transparency. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, in a meeting with EU, British, and U.S. ambassadors, reiterated the government's stance, emphasizing the bill's aim of accountability.
Critics within Georgia have likened the proposed legislation to laws utilized by the Russian government to suppress dissent, dubbing it "the Russian law." The bill's revival has reignited fears among some of creeping authoritarianism and strained relations with Western allies, even as Georgia maintains aspirations of EU and NATO membership.
