A barely believable scene. A fight broke out on Tuesday, May 14, between Georgian deputies during the examination in Parliament of the controversial bill on “foreign influence”, which was then adopted despite significant opposition demonstrations.
During the debates with a view to adopting the text on the third and final reading, elected officials from the majority confronted several others from the opposition with punches, according to images broadcast by public television. Shortly after, the deputies voted 84 votes “for” and 30 votes “against” the text.
Monday, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze promised that Parliament would vote on the law the next day, ignoring calls from the streets and criticism from the United States and the European Union.
If adopted, the law will require any NGO or media receiving more than 20% of its funding from abroad to register as an“organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power”.