As opponents called for a second day of protests against a measure they see as Russian-inspired.

More than 5,000 people demonstrated on Monday (April 15) outside parliament against the bill, facing off against riot police and water cannon.

Tamar Khojamirovi is one of the demonstrators.

"It's like copied and pasted from a similar Russian law against freedom of media, against freedom of organizations. And we will receive same results now as Russians are facing. It is completely same."

While protesters chanted slogans against what they called "the Russian law", inside the chamber on Monday, opposition MP Aleko Elisashvili was shown on television punching Mamuka Mdinaradze, faction leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, as he spoke from the despatch box.

The bill would require organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as being agents of foreign influence.

Georgian critics have compared it to Russian legislation used by the Kremlin to crack down on dissent, a potent charge in the South Caucasus country, where Russia is unpopular for its support of the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.

Local and Western critics have also warned the bill would jeopardize Georgia's hopes of moving towards membership of the European Union.

Russia defeated Georgia in a short war in 2008.

Western countries including the United States, Britain and Germany have urged Georgia not to pass the bill.

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

Georgia's government has faced accusations of authoritarianism and pro-Russian leanings.

It says the law is needed to promote transparency and combat "pseudo-liberal values" imposed by foreigners.

Archil Talakvadze is a member of parliament for Georgian Dream.

"This law defends democracy in our country from any foreign interference. Transparency and accountability are priorities confirmed by the EU's report."

The party said this month it would reintroduce the bill, 13 months after it was shelved due to protests.