Fistfight Erupts In Georgian Parliament, MP Takes Punch To The Face (Video)

A session in the Georgian parliament turned tumultuous as members engaged in physical altercations amidst a heated debate over a controversial “foreign agent” bill. Opposition leader Aleko Elisashvili landed a blow on a member of the ruling Georgian Dream party during the exchange. The proposed legislation, criticized for potentially aligning Georgia more closely with Russian influence, was the focal point of the debate.

The confrontation erupted as a prominent Georgian Dream party member, advocating for the bill, addressed the assembly. Elisashvili’s action triggered a series of scuffles among lawmakers, drawing widespread national and international attention.

After the altercation, Elisashvili received applause from supporters outside the parliament building. He vehemently spoke out against the bill, emphasizing its threat to Georgian sovereignty. “I may have been attacked, but if it’s for Georgia, then so be it. We must vehemently oppose this legislation. There’s no time for niceties; they’re steering us towards Russia. We’re either Georgians or slaves. And we’re not slaves,” Elisashvili asserted to reporters.

The contentious bill would mandate organizations receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents,” a move feared to stigmatize and impede the operations of NGOs and media outlets. The proposal sparked widespread protests in Tbilisi, with demonstrators denouncing it as a “Russian law.”

In response to the parliamentary violence, five opposition MPs, including Giorgi Vashadze, Paata Manjgaladze, Ana Natsvlishvili, Levan Khabeishvili, and Khatia Dekanoidze, were expelled from the Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill. Additionally, over 60 civil society organizations and media outlets pledged non-compliance with the legislation should it pass.

European nations and the EU voiced opposition to the bill, citing concerns about Georgia’s democratic path and its EU aspirations. However, proponents like Georgian Dream lawmaker Givi Mikanadze argue the bill’s necessity for transparency, asserting that “Georgian society deserves to know which organizations receive financing and from where.”

Amid escalating debate, the bill’s future remains uncertain, with both sides holding steadfast to their positions.

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