Tensions boiled over in Georgia’s assembly on Monday as opposing lawmakers traded blows during a heated debate on a contentious law that has divided the nation.
Last year, Georgia’s ruling party withdrew a draft law after facing widespread protests and international criticism, dubbed by many as “Russian-style.”
However, the government recently announced its intention to reintroduce the legislation, now rebranded as a bill on the “transparency of foreign influence.”
According to The Cable, proposed bill aims to compel NGOs and media outlets receiving over 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as “organizations serving the interests of a foreign power” or face potential fines, sparking concerns about freedom of expression and sovereignty.
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the bill, highlighting the need for financial transparency among grant recipients.
However, critics argue that the legislation mirrors authoritarian measures employed by neighboring Russia to suppress dissent and could jeopardize Georgia’s aspirations to join the European Union.
As the parliamentary session descended into chaos, opposition MPs clashed with supporters of the bill, reflecting deep divisions within Georgian politics.
“I agree that no Russian laws should be adopted in Georgia,” stated Mamuka Mdinaradze, parliamentary leader of the ruling party, during the debate.
Moments later, opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili charged at Mdinaradze, igniting a physical altercation that reverberated through the chamber, highlighting the intensity of the dispute.
Outside the parliament, thousands of demonstrators gathered in Tbilisi, the capital, demanding the withdrawal of the controversial bill, underscoring the public outcry surrounding the issue.
