TBILISI, Mar 6 Georgian deputies on Monday during the consideration of the bill on foreign agents staged a fight, and a rally against the adoption of the document is also taking place near the parliament building, the footage is broadcast live by Georgian television companies.
Earlier, deputies from the Power of the People opposition movement submitted to the Georgian parliament a draft law on the transparency of foreign influence, according to which it is proposed to create a register of non-governmental organizations, media and entities receiving funding from a foreign state in the country. Representatives of the ruling Georgian Dream party, which has a parliamentary majority, said they intended to support the new bill, and if President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed it, the deputies would try to overcome it.
Last week, when consideration of the draft law began in the parliament at a committee meeting, an action of oppositionists took place. They believe that the bill is a «Russian version» and alienates the country from the European Union. 36 people were detained at the action.
Consideration of the bill continued at the committee meeting on Monday. In parallel, a rally of opposition supporters is taking place at the rear entrance to the parliament. Protesters oppose the adoption of the law. Patrol police were mobilized on the spot and surrounded the building of the legislature.
Meanwhile, at the meeting itself, a fight broke out between Anri Okhanashvili, representative of the parliamentary majority, and opposition deputies. Then the brawl spilled over from the meeting room into the parliament hall. All opposition deputies were forced to leave the meeting room.
«All opposition deputies, including women, were expelled by force. The building is surrounded by police, journalists are not allowed, which means that the law has already begun to operate,» opposition MP Yeka Kherkheulidze told reporters.