Papuashvili Threatens to Turn Off Microphone for MPs Using Russian Law Term

"You want to destroy democracy and take away the future of this country. To those who are pleased that the Georgian national team will participate in the European Championship, what do you say to these young people?" said Khatia Dekanoidze, a member of the Eurooptimists group, at the plenary session.

Aleksandre Elisashvili, a member of Citizens, emphasized that reverting to Russian law is an insult to all members of parliament and the country. "That law is Russian, period," said Elisashvili.

Shalva Papuashvili accused the MPs of "anti-Georgian propaganda" and stated that the Georgian Parliament "does not accept any Russian law."

"I will turn off the microphone of anyone who uses the Russian law term. Stop the anti-Georgian propaganda, don't lie to the Georgian people. You succeeded last year, but you won't succeed this year. You won't get away with it anymore. It's over. The lie you told the Georgian people last year has come to an end. You realize that you no longer have the moral right to say this. Yes, this is a lie that you are telling to call Russian law Georgian law," said Papuashvili, demanding Elisashvili's removal from the hall.

Aleksandre Elisashvili and the leader of the parliamentary majority, Mamuka Mdinaradze, verbally confronted each other. It was revealed today during Mdinaradze's briefing that Georgian Dream plans to adopt the Russian Law before the end of the spring session. The text of the draft law will remain the same, with only "agent of foreign influence" being replaced by the term "organization carrying the interests of a foreign power”.

How Parliamentary Opposition Evaluates the Revival of the Russian Law

Members of the parliamentary opposition agree that adopting the Russian law will hinder Georgia's European integration.

Aleksandre Elisashvili (Citizens party): "This is evil against our country. Once everything was reversed in this country, now they are reversing this law again. I tell you, you don't want to do that, it's Russian. Calling it Russian is an insult, they say. We should not wait! What Russian law! Parliament should not accept this law! It's ready and has started. It is a lie to suggest that non-governmental organizations receive illicit funds. Their financing is 100% transparent. It appears they have obligations with the Russians and comply; otherwise, there is no logical explanation. I call on everyone who is a normal person in this country, who wants this country to become a part of Europe, to take up your armor and get ready. A lot of passion and beatings await us. We should not wait."

Roman Gotsiridze (parliamentary group Eurooptimists): "This is a direct refusal to join the European Union. This was preceded by other laws, including the amendment of the election law. In fact, this government has decided to give up the country's EU accession process in exchange for maintaining power. This government is a traitor."

Ana Natsvlishvili (Lelo Party): “Georgian Dream realizes that its ship is sinking and, like all evil and harmful forces, has decided to swallow the whole country. This once again confirms what we have been saying all along, that the task of this political force is not to make this country a member of the European Union. Their only task from the Kremlin is to finally bring this country to Russia."

Ani Tsitlidze (United National Movement): "Ivanishvili's party dares to bypass the will of Georgian citizens, who fought against this Russian law during the March protests, and return this law to the parliament again. It is no coincidence that before reversing the Russian law, Ivanishvili's party demanded the abolition of gender quotas, thus confirming once again that it does not intend to fulfill any of the obligations demanded by our international partners. Ivanishvili's party and the European integration of Georgia are incompatible. We must fight so that this Russian law cannot be adopted by parliament."

Beka Liluashvili (Party For Georgia): "When the Russian law was first initiated, our alternative bill aimed at exposing and limiting the influence of Russia, the occupying state, was ignored. Why? Because their bill has nothing to do with actually limiting the influence of hostile states, primarily Russia. It has a different purpose, which is to create a new political tool in the hands of the Dream who are so frightened by the upcoming elections that they are creating new levers of influence in their political arsenal. But they forget that the public did not accept it the first time."