In a dramatic turn of events, a female Georgian member of parliament made headlines on Monday after she hit a male colleague with a water bottle during a heated discussion about a controversial “foreign agents” law. The incident, captured on video and shared by local media, showed opposition MP Khatia Dekanoidze striking Guram Macharashvili on the head with a plastic bottle as he shouted and pointed at her.
The proposed law, which would require organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents, has sparked widespread protests in Georgia. Critics argue that the bill is authoritarian and Russian-inspired, while supporters claim it is necessary to ensure transparency in NGO funding. The legislation is set to undergo its second reading on Tuesday.
The European Union has expressed concerns that the law could jeopardize Georgia’s path to EU membership, while Russian President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman has denied any involvement in the legislation. Following the altercation in parliament, 14 opposition MPs were reportedly expelled from the session, and the live broadcast was abruptly shut off.
As tensions continue to rise, both pro-government and opposition rallies are planned in the capital city of Tbilisi. Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, who opposes the law but holds a mostly ceremonial role, criticized the pro-government rally as a “Putintype” action, accusing civil servants of being bused in to support the ruling party. The streets of Tbilisi are expected to be filled with demonstrators as the debate over the controversial law rages on.