Georgian lawmakers resorted to blows in the parliament when members of the ruling party were about to present a bill on “foreign agents.”
Aljazeera reports that the bill had been criticized by Western countries and had been protested against at home.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the ruling Georgian Dream Party who is a driving force behind the bill, was punched in the face on Monday by opposition member of parliament Aleko Elisashvili while speaking in parliament.
Trouble in parliament has been rearing its head recently, as the ruling party and opposition are divided on whether to deepen relations with the West or reconnect the former Soviet Republic with Russia. Russia has become unpopular in Georgia for supporting the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. To make matters worse, Russia defeated Georgia in a short war in 2008.
Some protesters staged a march against the bill on Monday. They unfurled a large European Union flag and shouted, “No to the Russian law!”
Georgian Dream had earlier said it would reintroduce legislation requiring organizations that accept funds from abroad to register as foreign agents or face fines. But about a year later, protests forced it to slash the plans.
Even while deepening its ties with Russia, Georgian Dream wants the country to join the EU and NATO. According to the party, the bill must remove “pseudo-liberal values” imposed by foreigners and promote transparency.
