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Opponents of Georgia’s ‘foreign agent’ bill say it would stifle voices that criticise the government.
01:47, Tue, Apr 16, 2024 | UPDATED: 01:48, Tue, Apr 16, 2024
MP Mamuka Mdinaradze punched in Georgian parliament (Image: Getty)
A Georgian politician was punched while he delivered a speech at the dispatch box while discussing a proposed “Russian law”.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was delivering a speech about a controversial law that would ban “foreign agents”.
It has drawn criticism from the West and sparked widespread protests on the streets of Tbilisi.
Hundreds marched along the streets of the capital chanting “no to the Russian law” with many waving EU and Georgian flags.
The “foreign agents” bill would require non-governmental organisations and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as an “organisation serving the interests of a foreign power”.
Protesters gathered in Tbilisi (Image: Getty)
The Georgian government says it is needed to ensure financial transparency for grant funding. But critics say it is an attempt to limit critical voices and damage the nation’s chances of joining the EU.
They say it is similar to a law introduced by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Mdinaradze said “I agree that no Russian laws should be adopted in Georgia,” shortly before being punched by opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili.
Hundreds of people gathered in Tbilisi (Image: Getty)
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The incident sparked a short brawl in parliament.
The opposition says Georgian Dream fears losing power at the next election.
While the party currently holds power ahead of upcoming elections, polling shows it has lost ground since 2020 where it only won with a narrow margin.
Russia remains unpopular in Georgia over its support for breakaway regions Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
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