Tensions boiled over in the Georgian parliament as lawmakers from the ruling party moved to advance a contentious “foreign agents” bill that has drawn sharp criticism from Western nations. The proposed legislation would compel civil society organizations receiving more than 20% of their annual funding from foreign sources to publicly declare that they are “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” or face fines.

 

The controversial bill has sparked a fierce backlash from Georgians and Western countries who liken it to Russian laws used by the Kremlin to silence dissent. The European Union which granted Georgia candidate status in December has warned that the move is incompatible with the bloc’s values.

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The physical altercation erupted when opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili punched Mamuka Mdinaradze the leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s parliamentary faction in the face as he spoke from the dispatch box. The incident captured on television footage underscores the deep divisions within the country over the controversial bill.

 

The Georgian Dream party maintains that it wants the country to join the EU and NATO even as it has deepened ties with Russia and faced accusations of authoritarianism at home. The party claims that the bill is necessary to combat what it calls “pseudo-liberal values” imposed by foreigners and to promote transparency.

 

On April 15 2024 thousands of protesters gathered outside the parliament building to voice their opposition to the legislation. The term “foreign agent” is rooted in the Soviet past and suggests such people are traitors and enemies of the state a major reason for the massive opposition.

Russia is viewed highly unfavorably in Georgia primarily due to the government’s support for the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. In 2008 Russia defeated Georgia in a conflict.

If the foreign agent legislation passes the legislature’s legal affairs committee which is likely given the Georgian Dream party’s control it will then advance to a first reading in parliament. 

 

The Eastern European country is set to hold elections in October 2024 and although the Georgian Dream party is the most prominent its numbers have been dwindling since 2020.

As the controversial bill continues to divide the nation the physical altercation in the Georgian parliament serves as a stark reminder of the high stakes involved. 

 

The outcome of the legislation and its potential impact on civil society foreign relations and Georgia’s future hang in the balance.