GEORGIAN politicians began debating the first reading of a Bill on “foreign agents” today as protests against the measure on organisations and charities continued for a second day.

Thousands of pro-European Union protesters gathered outside the parliament building in Tbilisi today despite being faced with riot police and water cannons on Monday.

The Bill would require groups receiving more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad to register as being agents of foreign influence, with critics comparing it to Russian legislation.

It was shelved 13 months ago due to large-scale protests.

The EU, which gave Georgia candidate status in December, has said the draft law is “incompatible” with the bloc’s values.

If the Bill becomes law, it could affect the country’s chances of joining the EU.

Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party has said the law is needed to promote transparency and combat “pseudo-liberal values” imposed by foreigners.

Ahead of the first reading, opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili punched Georgian Dream faction leader Mamuka Mdinaradze as he spoke from the despatch box in parliament on Monday.

The Bill must pass three readings in parliament to become law.