Thousands of Georgians protested on Monday, April 15, and lawmakers clashed when the ruling party gave the green light for the return of debate on a bill on “foreign agents” that had been criticized for being “Russian inspired.” The opposition MP attacked the leader of the ruling party, the author of the diploma.
The broadcast of the debate on Georgian television shows Mamula Medinaradze, leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, being punched in the head, while speaking on the podium, by opposition MP Aliko Elisashvili.
Mamula Medinarazi co-authored the controversial bill that was once again debated in the Georgian Parliament. The diploma stipulates that organizations that receive more than 20% of foreign funding are obligated to register under the name “an organization representing the interests of a foreign power,” under penalty of a fine. It was discussed about a year ago, and then thousands of Georgians took to the streets, as they do today, to oppose it.
More than 5,000 demonstrators gathered in front of Georgia's Soviet-era parliament building on Monday, demanding that the government withdraw the legislation. Georgian critics classify the bill as a “Russian law,” comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to suppress dissent.
Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party and its allies, approved the draft law, paving the way for its first reading on Tuesday.
The demonstrators chanted “Russians! Russians!” Against the police cordon to secure access to Parliament, with water cannons placed nearby.
The Georgian Interior Ministry said in a statement that 14 demonstrators were arrested on charges of violating public order, and that a police officer was treated for injuries.
“I hope we will put enough pressure on this law until it is withdrawn from Parliament,” said Tornicki, a 24-year-old activist. “But if they don’t, I think we have to push hard enough to get rid of this government.”
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