Protest, brawl over ‘foreign agents’ law

TBILISI: Thousands of Georgians protested yesterday and lawmakers came to blows as ruling party legislators gave the initial goahead for debate on a Bill on ‘‘foreign agents’’ that opponents criticised as inspired by Russia.

More than 5000 demonstrators massed outside parliament, demanding the government withdraw the legislation requiring organisations that accept funds from abroad to register as foreign agents or face fines.

Georgian critics label the Bill ‘‘the Russian law’’, comparing it to legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent.

Parliament’s legal affairs committee, which is controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party and its allies, endorsed the Bill, clearing the way for it to be submitted for a first reading overnight.

Protesters chanted ‘‘Russians! Russians!’’ at cordons of police securing approaches to the parliament, with water cannon deployed nearby.

Georgia’s Interior Ministry in a statement said 14 protesters had been detained for public order violations and one police officer had been injured.

‘‘I hope we push hard enough to get this law out of the parliament,’’ Tornike, a 24yearold activist, said.

‘‘But if they don’t do it, I think we have to push hard enough to get rid of this government.’’

Earlier, television showed Mamuka Mdinaradze, leader of Georgian Dream’s parliamentary faction and a key force behind the Bill, being punched in the face by opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili while speaking from the dispatch box.

The incident prompted a brawl pitting lawmakers against one another, an occasional occurrence in the oftenraucous parliament. Footage showed Elisashvili being greeted with cheers outside the parliament.

Georgian Dream says the Bill is necessary to combat ‘‘pseudoliberal values’’ imposed by foreigners and promote transparency. — Reuters