Georgian Parliament Approves 'Foreign Agents' Bill

The Legal Issues Committee of the Georgian Parliament has approved the 'Foreign Agents' bill on its first reading. According to 'News-Georgia', the legislative initiative is expected to be presented at a plenary session of the Georgian Parliament this week. The exact date is still unknown.

Hearings were held on Monday amid a heated debate between representatives of the ruling 'Georgian Dream' party and the opposition. Aleko Elisashvili, a member of the 'Citizens' party, got into a scuffle with the leader of the parliamentary majority, Mamuka Mdinaradze. Subsequently, all other opposition members were removed from the chamber for 'improper behavior'. Only members of the parliamentary majority participated in the vote.

A large protest is taking place near the Parliament under the slogan 'No to the Russian Law'. The police are preventing protesters from marching around the parliamentary building and are warning participants with loudspeakers that special measures may be applied.