Protesters on Thursday disrupted a committee hearing in Georgia’s parliament on a controversial ruling-party-backed “foreign agents” bill that critics say is a drift toward authoritarianism.

In Georgia, people protest against the draft law on “foreign agents”Photo: Nicolo Vincenzo Malvestuto / Shutterstock Editorial / Profimedia

Footage published in the media shows physical fights between opposition parliamentarians and the ruling Georgian Dream party, which announced last month that it would support the bill.

The bill would require all organizations that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents,” or risk significant fines.

Critics said it was reminiscent of a law passed in the Russian Federation in 2012 that has since been used to suppress civil society, Reuters and Agerpres reported.

In February, more than 60 media and civil society groups said they would not implement the law if it were passed.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishivli said she would reject the bill, although parliament could override her veto.

The bill has also raised concerns abroad, particularly in the United States. On Thursday, US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the bill would have negative consequences for free speech and democracy. “It will stigmatize and silence the independent voices and citizens of Georgia who are committed to building a better country for their fellow citizens, for their communities,” Price told reporters.