WATCH: Water thrown on Georgian leader during fiery Parliamentary debate on foreign influence law

During a heated parliamentary debate over a controversial foreign influence law, water was poured on Georgian opposition lawmaker Giorgi Vashadze while he deliveredhis speech.

Undeterred, Vashadze continued, stating, "This water will not harm me, and the Georgian people will not be harmed by the traitor's way you have chosen."

The incident occurred as the Georgian parliament debated the divisive "foreign agents" bill, which has sparked weeks of massive protests and raised concerns in the West.

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President Salome Zourabichvili's vetoed the bill on May 18 but the parliament, dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, overrode the veto with an 84-4 vote.

The bill mandates that media and nonprofit organisations register as foreign agents if they receive more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad.

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Critics argue that the legislation mirrors restrictive measures in Russia and jeopardises Georgia's aspirations to join the European Union.

Zourabichvili has warned that the bill endangers Georgia's future and hinders "the path towards becoming a full member of the free and democratic world."

Following the veto override, the president has five days to sign the bill into law, or the parliament speaker will do so.

Outside the parliament, opponents of the bill rallied, chanting "Slaves!" and later marched past Georgian Dream headquarters.

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The government defended the bill as necessary to protect the nation from harmful foreign influences. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze reportedly argued that the law would bolster Georgia's EU membership prospects, stating, "The law on transparency will create better grounds for ensuring the membership of Georgia in the EU."

US condemns foreign influence bill

The EU's foreign policy arm and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken have both criticised the law. Blinken announced travel sanctions against Georgian officials.

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Protests in Tbilisi have continued, with demonstrators clashing with police, who have resorted to tear gas and water cannons.

Tensions between Russia and Georgia have simmered since a brief war in 2008. The status of the breakaway province of South Ossetia remains a contentious issue.

(With inputs from agencies)