A Georgian MP today punched a rival politician in the face over the government’s reintroduction of a controversial “foreign influence” law, sparking a mass brawl in parliament.
Critics say the legislation mirrors repressive Russian laws used by Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin regime to silence and intimidate dissidents.
The ruling Georgian Dream party announced the proposal earlier this month, reviving a similar bill that was withdrawn a year ago after mass protests.
Video from a parliamentary hearing showed an opposition lawmaker punching a speaking lawmaker from the ruling party, which co-sponsored the bill, in the head, sparking a massive brawl on the floor and the cutting off of the live stream.
Video of the incident shows MP Aleko Elisashvili charging in from Mamuka Mdinaradze’s left, waving his fist and making contact with his face. Another politician sitting behind the loudspeaker watches with his mouth open.
This is the moment a Georgian MP (right) punched a rival politician in the face over the government’s reintroduction of a controversial ‘foreign influence’ law
Video of the incident shows the politician – MP Aleko Elisashvili – charging in from the speaker’s left, waving his fist and making contact with the man’s face. Another politician sitting behind the speaker looks on, open-mouthed and shocked
Video of the incident shows MP Aleko Elisashvili charging from the speaking politician’s left, waving his fist and making contact with the man’s face. Another politician sitting behind the speaker looks on, open-mouthed and shocked
As Elisashvili and the speaking politician fall off the stage together, a mass of bodies surround them and try to subdue the MP.
As Elisashvili and Mdinaradze fall from the podium together, a mass of bodies surround them and try to subdue the attacking MP.
Further footage showed other politicians in suits throwing punches during the brawl while others desperately tried to calm the situation.
In angry comments made outside the building in the aftermath of the incident, Elisashvili told reporters: “I have been beaten, but if it is for Georgia, so be it!”
“We need to shove this law up their asses,” he said, pumping his fist at a cheering crowd. ‘There’s no time for politeness. They’re dragging us straight to Russia.
“We are either Georgians or slaves – and we are not slaves,” he added.
The scuffle broke out when dozens of Georgians gathered outside parliament against the proposed law, which they say undermines Georgia’s bid for EU membership.
Ahead of a rally planned for Monday evening, demonstrators could be seen unfurling a large European Union flag and shouting: “No to Russian law!”
“Georgian society is strong enough to prevent the country from sliding into Russian-style authoritarianism,” says architect Saba Gotua.
“We will not let the Georgian Dream waste Georgia’s historic opportunity to become an EU member.”
Georgia has been trying to deepen ties with the West for years, but the current ruling party has been accused of trying to reconnect the former Soviet republic with Russia.
According to the bill, any independent organization that receives more than 20 percent of its funding from abroad must register as an “organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”
In angry comments made outside the building in the aftermath of the incident, Elisashvili told reporters: “I have been beaten, but if it is for Georgia, so be it!”
Demonstrators gather to protest the reintroduction of the ‘Foreign Agent Bill’ at the First Republic Square (Rose Revolution Square) in Tbilisi, Georgia on April 15
Critics say the government’s proposed legislation echoes repressive Russian laws used by Vladimir Putin and his Kremlin regime to silence and intimidate dissidents.
That was a change from last year’s proposal, which used the term “agent of foreign influence.”
Georgian Dream said it changed the wording after accepting that the first had negative connotations.
The term “foreign agent” has its origins in the Soviet past and suggests that such people are traitors and enemies of the state.
Last week, around 8,000 people held a rally in central Tbilisi, following the ruling party’s surprise announcement that it planned to pass the bill in May.
Analysts said the ruling party – widely suspected of secret collaboration with the Kremlin – sees Western funding of Georgia’s pro-democracy NGOs and independent media as a challenge to its grip on power.
“Georgian Dream makes no secret of the fact that the law aims to neutralize Western influence,” political analyst Ghia Nodia told AFP.
“The party keeps saying that it is steering Georgia towards the EU, but in fact it is sabotaging Georgia’s European prospects,” which are supported by around 80 percent of the population, according to opinion polls.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze – known for his anti-Western rhetoric – has emphasized that his cabinet is committed to the country’s European aspirations.
In an effort to defend the ruling party’s case, he invited ambassadors from EU countries that had criticized the bill to live television debates.
The European Commission has called on Tbilisi not to adopt the legislation as it contradicts the democratic reform agenda that Tbilisi must pursue to progress on its path to EU membership.
In December, the EU granted Georgia official candidate country status, but said Tbilisi would need to reform its legal and electoral systems, reduce political polarization, improve press freedom and limit the power of oligarchs before membership talks would formally start.
The United States said last week that passing the law would “derail Georgia from its European path.”
Demonstrators gather to protest the reintroduction of the ‘Foreign Agent Bill’ at the First Republic Square (Rose Revolution Square) in Tbilisi, Georgia on April 15, 2024
“We are deeply concerned that, if passed, this bill would harm civil society organizations (and)… hinder independent media organizations,” U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters.
“Stay tuned,” he said when asked about the prospect of the US imposing sanctions on Georgia.
The passage of the controversial legislation is likely to further deepen divisions in Georgia, where staunchly pro-Western President Salome Zurabishvili has condemned the bill as damaging to democracy.
Traditionally seen as a leader of democratic transformation among former Soviet countries, Georgia has been criticized in recent years for perceived democratic backsliding.