Lawmakers in Georgia's legislature engaged in a physical altercation on Monday during a heated debate over a controversial new law known as the foreign agent bill. The proposed legislation, put forth by the ruling Georgian Dream party, requires media and non-commercial organizations to register as entities under foreign influence if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.
Opponents of the bill have likened it to Russia's laws targeting independent media and organizations critical of the Kremlin. The draft has sparked outrage, leading to hundreds of protesters gathering outside the parliament in Tbilisi to voice their dissent.
Video footage circulating online captured a chaotic scene as a scuffle broke out among lawmakers, with one opposition member physically assaulting the leader of the Georgian Dream party. The brawl escalated as other legislators from opposing factions joined in, resulting in a tumultuous confrontation.
This isn't the first time such legislation has been proposed in Georgia. A similar bill was withdrawn last year following widespread public protests. Protesters at the recent demonstration expressed concerns that the new law could compromise Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union, a goal the country has been pursuing.
Georgian Prime Minister held discussions with ambassadors from the United States, United Kingdom, and the European Union to address the contentious bill. The proposed law mandates that organizations and media outlets receiving significant foreign funding must register as entities serving the interests of a foreign power.
President Salome Zourabichvili has indicated her intention to veto the bill if it passes through parliament. However, the longevity of such a veto remains uncertain, given the upcoming end of Zourabichvili's term and the constitutional provision that the next president will be appointed by an electoral college comprising all members of parliament.
