Fistfights in Georgian parliament as 'foreign influence' bill looms

Scuffles broke out on Tuesday in Georgia's parliament, where lawmakers are expected to adopt a divisive "foreign influence" law criticised by protesters for mirroring Russian legislation used to silence dissent.

The altercations between opposition and ruling party MPs erupted as hundreds of mainly young protesters gathered outside parliament in growing numbers for another day of protests against the bill.

The European Union on Tuesday warned Georgia that passing the law would hamper its push to join the bloc.

Tbilisi has seen three straight nights of mass rallies over the bill, which mirrors repressive laws introduced in Russia and has been condemned by the European Union and the United States.

Tens of thousands of people have protested in the country, a former Soviet republic, since the Georgian Dream party reintroduced the draft law over a month ago.

It replaces an earlier version that the government scrapped last year in the face of mass protests.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said this week that his government would push the bill through in a third and final reading on Tuesday despite the rising tensions.

During a heated debate, ruling party and opposition lawmakers scuffled and traded blows, footage aired by Georgia's public broadcaster showed.

A crowd of some 2,000 protesters meanwhile gathered outside, mainly students who have been refusing to attend classes and announced a fresh evening rally.

 Fears for EU integration 

The bill requires NGOs and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as bodies "pursuing the interests of a foreign power".

Russia has used a similar law to silence public figures and organisations...