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Georgian television showed commotion in the chamber. One
pro-government deputy was seen throwing a book at opposition
legislators, while others shouted and physically confronted
opponents. The foreign agent bill has prompted an upsurge of
violence in Georgia's often-rowdy parliament.
Georgian security forces used water cannon, tear gas and stun
grenades against protesters outside parliament late on Tuesday,
sharply escalating the crackdown after lawmakers debated the
"foreign agents" bill viewed by the opposition and Western
nations as authoritarian and Russian-inspired.
During the protests in Tbilisi on Tuesday, police detained 63
people and six police officers were injured, Deputy Interior
Minister Aleksandre Darakhvelidze said.
Levan Khabeishvili, leader of the United National Movement
party, Georgia's largest opposition bloc, spoke in parliament on
Wednesday with his face heavily bandaged. His party said he was
badly beaten by police at the protest, leaving him with
concussion, broken facial bones, and missing four teeth.
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell wrote in a
post on X on Wednesday: "I strongly condemn the violence against
protesters in Georgia who were peacefully demonstrating against
the law on foreign influence."
The EU, which gave Georgia candidate status in December, has
said the bill could derail Tbilisi's hopes of European
integration if passed.
Supporters of the bill, including Bidzina Ivanishvili, the
billionaire founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party and
former prime minister, say the foreign agent law would bolster
national sovereignty amid what he said were Western attempts to
lead Georgia into a confrontation with Russia.
(Reporting by Felix Light, Writing by Maxim Rodionov, Editing by
Guy Faulconbridge and Timothy Heritage)
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