Georgian MPs came to blows while having a debate in parliament over a controversial foreign agents bill when the leader of the party met a punch in the face during a hearing.
The bust up took place after opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili punched the leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Mamuka Mdinaradze in the face as he was making his speech.
The bill, whicch would require organizations in Georgia that accept funds abroad to register as foreign assets or risk being fined, has caused divide over the past year including demonstrations.
After the first punch was thrown, several other legislators joined in and began fighting.
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Elisashvili later left the parliament building and was cheered by citizens who gathered outside.
He said: “I got beaten, but if it’s for Georgia, then so be it. F**k them! We must shove this law up their a**es.
“There is no time for politeness, they are dragging us directly into Russia. We are either Georgians or slaves. And we are not slaves.”
Following the incident, five opposition MPs have now been expelled from the Judiciary Committee hearing on the bill after the row.
They have been named as Giorgi Vashadze, Paata Manjgaladze, Ana Natsvlishvili, Levan Khabeishvili and Khatia Dekanoidze.
The reason the bill has sparked debate is that it could cause issues for Georgian citizens who want to join the EU.
The EU have opposed the bill, and local protests that turned violent saw residents throw stones and fireworks at police in one demonstration in Tbilisi.
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More than 60 media outlets and civil society organizations have claimed they won’t comply if it is signed into law.
Georgian Dream lawmaker, Givi Mikanadze, said last year: “Georgian society absolutely deserves to know which organisations are being financed, from which sources.”
Residents are concerned it’s pushing it too far.
But the party say the bill will promote transparency over foreign funding.
