Chaos in Georgian Parliament: MP Taunts PM Before Brawls Erupt

A parliamentary session in Georgia descended into a physical altercation on Friday after MP Giorgi Sharashidze accused Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze of subservience during an official visit by the Azerbaijani president.

Mockery Sparks Parliamentary Conflict

During Friday’s parliamentary session, MP Giorgi Sharashidze of the For Georgia party referenced an April visit by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. Sharashidze highlighted that Prime Minister Irakli Kobachidze appeared to be following behind other officials during the meeting with founder Bidzina Ivanishvili.

Sharashidze directly addressed the Prime Minister, stating that watching him stand in the corner during the high-level meeting revealed his true position within the government. He questioned how such a dynamic was possible, asserting that Georgia had never before seen a Prime Minister of this nature.

Physical Altercations Break Out

The MP’s remarks triggered immediate outrage among members of the ruling Georgian Dream party. As Sharashidze stepped down from the podium, a physical brawl broke out between opposition and ruling party members, an incident captured in footage released by Reuters.

According to reports from Civil.ge and NetGazeti, the conflict began between Irakli Kheladze and Giga Parulava, subsequently drawing in other deputies. The Chair of the Legal Affairs Committee, Archil Gorduladze, was reported to have attacked opposition members, joined by other ruling party MPs including Olympic weightlifting champion Lasha Talakhadze.

Security Intervention and Medical Response

Parliamentary security intervened to restore order, ultimately removing opposition deputies from the plenary hall. Medical personnel were called to the scene following the scuffles, and the parliamentary session resumed once the situation had been stabilized.