Georgia parliament descends into chaos as lawmakers throw punches over Putin-style ‘foreign agent’ bill

Georgia’s parliament descended into chaos Monday aft nan leader of nan ruling Georgian Dream party’s parliamentary faction was punched successful nan look while discussing a arguable rule connected "foreign agents." 

Video obtained by Fox News Digital shows Mamuka Mdinaradze, 45, punched successful nan look by guidance MP Aleko Elisashvili, 46, while addressing nan chamber.  

Mdinaradze, who is simply a driving unit down nan legislation, tin beryllium seen toppling complete arsenic respective different MPs subordinate nan melee. Footage shows lawmakers connected opposing sides leaping up from their desks and trading punches. Protesters later greeted Elisashvili pinch cheers extracurricular nan parliament building. 

Georgia's parliament descends into chaos aft a lawmaker was punched by an MP from nan guidance party.  (East2West)

The "foreign agents" measure is arguable wrong Georgia and has been criticized by countries arsenic a "Putin-style" import from Russia. A draught submitted past week calls for media and non-commercial organizations to registry arsenic being nether overseas power if they person much than 20% of their fund from abroad.

The measurement is astir identical to a connection that nan governing Georgian Dream statement was pressured to retreat a twelvemonth agone aft ample thoroughfare protests.

The Georgian Dream statement has insisted nan rule is basal to combat what it derides arsenic "pseudo-liberal values" imposed by foreigners, and to beforehand transparency. Georgian critics person branded nan measure arsenic nan "Russian law," likening it to nan Kremlin’s efforts to ace down connected dissidents.  

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Opponents person besides based on that nan rule would complicate Georgia’s purpose of joining nan European Union, which issued nan state long-desired campaigner position past year.

The Georgian Dream party, has said it wants Georgia to subordinate nan EU and NATO, yet it is seen arsenic deepening ties pinch Russia. 

Law enforcement officers artifact a thoroughfare during a protestation against a draught measure connected "foreign agents" successful Tbilisi, Georgia April 15, 2024. (REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze)

The EU, meanwhile, has said that nan "foreign agent" rule is incompatible pinch nan block’s values. 

"Creating and maintaining an enabling situation for civilian nine organizations and ensuring media state is astatine nan halfway of democracy. It is besides important for nan EU accession process," Peter Stano, spokesperson for nan EU's foreign-policy arm, said past week.

Monday’s brawl came arsenic Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze held a gathering pinch ambassadors from nan EU, nan U.K., and nan U.S., to talk nan legislation. 

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President Salome Zourabichvili would veto nan rule if it is passed by parliament, said her parliamentary typical Girogi Mskhiladze. But that veto mightiness not beryllium long-lasting. Zourabichvili's word ends this twelvemonth and nether constitution changes nan adjacent president will beryllium named by an electoral assemblage that includes each members of parliament.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.