Georgian lawmakers clash over contentious 'foreign agent' law

Georgian lawmakers got into a physical altercation in parliament on Monday over a controversial bill on “foreign agents” that has drawn criticism from Western countries and led to protests at home.

In a video aired on Georgian television, Mamuka Mdinaradze, head of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s parliamentary group and a key supporter of the bill, was seen being punched in the face by opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili while addressing the chamber.

A fight broke out among lawmakers in Georgia's lively parliament, a common sight in the often rowdy setting. Outside the parliament building, protesters cheered as Elisashvili emerged from the chaos.

Earlier this month, Georgian Dream announced plans to revive a proposal that would make organizations receiving foreign funds register as foreign agents or pay fines. This decision comes over a year after protests led to the initial shelving of the legislation.

The bill has caused tension with European countries and the United States, both of whom have expressed their opposition to its passing. The European Union, which granted Georgia candidate status in December, has stated that the bill goes against the values of the bloc.

Georgian Dream has expressed its desire for the country to eventually join the EU and NATO, while also strengthening connections with Russia and facing criticism for its alleged authoritarian practices. The party believes that the bill is essential in countering what it views as "fake liberal values" imposed by outsiders and in promoting transparency.

Protesters hold a giant EU flag outside Georgia's Parliament on Monday.

Protesters hold a giant EU flag outside Georgia's Parliament on Monday.

Shakh Aivazov/AP

Georgia’s government said Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a meeting on Monday with the EU, British and US ambassadors at which they had discussed the bill.

Kobakhidze supported the draft law, stating that it promotes accountability. He questioned why Western countries were against it.

Critics in Georgia have criticized the bill, calling it "the Russian law" because it resembles legislation used by the Kremlin to suppress dissent in Russia.

Georgia holds negative views towards Russia because of its backing of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as its victory over Georgia in a brief conflict in 2008.

Before a large protest planned for Monday evening by civil society groups, a group of several hundred protesters assembled outside the parliament building.

Once the foreign agent bill is approved by the legislature’s legal affairs committee, which is controlled by Georgian Dream and its allies, it can move forward to a first reading in parliament.

Georgia is set to have elections by October. Recent opinion polls indicate that Georgian Dream is still the top party, although its support has decreased since 2020, when it barely secured a majority.

Editor's P/S:

The physical altercation in Georgia's parliament highlights the deep divisions and tensions surrounding the controversial "foreign agents" bill. The bill, which resembles legislation used by Russia to suppress dissent, has drawn criticism from Western countries and sparked protests at home. Georgia's government, led by the ruling Georgian Dream party, defends the bill as a measure to promote transparency and counter "fake liberal values" imposed by outsiders. However, critics argue that the bill is a threat to civil society and freedom of expression.

The ongoing debate over the bill reflects the complex geopolitical dynamics at play in Georgia. The country, which has close ties to both Russia and the West, faces the challenge of balancing its aspirations for EU and NATO membership with its historical and cultural connections to Russia. The outcome of the bill will have significant implications for Georgia's future, as it grapples with issues of national identity, sovereignty, and the role of foreign influence in its political and social landscape.