Devendra Kumar
Georgia’s president, Salome Zourabichvili, has vetoed a controversial law that has sparked widespread protests across the country. The law, which critics claim is modeled after Russian legislation, requires media outlets and non-governmental organizations to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. Zourabichvili characterized the law as contradicting Georgia’s constitution and “all European standards,” stating that it “must be abolished.”
The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has sufficient majority to override the veto and is expected to do so in the coming days. Many Georgian journalists and campaigners have fiercely disputed the government’s characterization of the law as intended to promote transparency and curb foreign influence, arguing that it is designed to stigmatize them and restrict debate ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October.
The European Union has closely followed the situation, offering Georgia candidate status last December but emphasizing that Tbilisi needs to implement key policy recommendations for its membership bid to progress. These recommendations include ensuring free and fair elections, fighting disinformation, and safeguarding the independence of public institutions. The opposition and many protesters have accused the ruling party of trying to scupper the EU integration process and instead drag Georgia into Russia’s sphere of influence – allegations the ruling party vehemently rejects.
Georgian Dream was founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister and billionaire who made his fortune in Russia. The party was criticized for similar legislation last year, which was withdrawn after public pressure. The current law has sparked weeks of mass protests, with demonstrators clashing with police, who have used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them.
EU officials and western leaders have repeatedly expressed concerns over the law and Tbilisi’s heavy-handed response to dissent. The EU’s top diplomat, Josep Borrell, issued a statement supporting the Georgian protesters and condemning violence against opposition politicians, activists, and journalists. European Council president Charles Michel emphasized that if Georgians want to join the EU, they must respect the fundamental principles of the rule of law and democratic principles.
Zourabichvili noted that it is difficult to determine whether the law was Georgian Dream’s initiative or if Moscow had played a role in its passage, but emphasized that the Kremlin is unhappy with Georgia’s pro-western aspirations. Georgia and Russia have a strained and turbulent relationship, with Moscow recognizing South Ossetia and Abkhazia as independent states after a brief war in 2008. The regions’ status remains a key irritant in their relations, even as ties have improved in recent years.