A brawl broke out between Georgian politicians during a parliament session on Friday (December 26), as deputies came to blows over the selection process of the country’s delegations in international bodies.
The debate on party quotas became heated when senior parliamentarian Tina Khidasheli suggested the United National Movement party have their quota decreased.
“Quota shares must be brought to reality for all delegations, because of the fact that (OurGeorgia) Free Democrats is now not in the ruling coalition, so the (United) National Movement should lose their quota because there is a new member in the opposition,” she said.
Khidasheli was interrupted by opposition member Akaki Bobokhidze, who raised his voice and accused the ruling coalition of moving toward Russia.
“We are sliding toward mother Russia and this decision made by you is clearly visible to European organisations. But instead of clearing your reputation in Europe, you still go the same way. The time of your fleeing will come, but by then your mother Russia will be an unfit place for you to flee to,” he said before starting to swear at the ruling coalition deputies.
The argument quickly turned into an exchange of blows, as deputies jumped over tables to throw punches and ripped out microphones to use as sticks.
(Photo grabbed from Reuters video/Courtesy Reuters)
Several could be seen attempting to hold their colleagues back from the brawl.
Local media reported at least three deputies were injured in the scuffle.
The parliament speaker quickly adjourned the meeting as security and medics were called to the government chamber.
The parliament session resumed after a break with politicians voting in favor of new regulations on the quota of deputies in Council of Europe delegations. (Reuters)
