Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili speaks at a rally to celebrate Europe Day outside his official residence in Tbilisi on May 9, 2024. Photo by Vano Shlamov/AFP via Getty Images)
Vano Shlamov | AFP | Getty Images
Georgian President Salome Zurabichvili held talks with European ministers on Wednesday to urgently discuss “how to save” the country, shortly after lawmakers passed a deeply divisive Russian-style foreign influence bill.
The United States, the European Union, NATO and the United Nations have all issued statements expressing concern about Georgia’s new legislation, with opposition lawmakers denouncing the bill as “Russian law”.
The “Foreign Agents” Act requires the country’s media outlets, nonprofits and other non-governmental organizations to register as “pursuing the interests of foreign powers” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.
Russia, which occupies about 20% of Georgia’s internationally recognized territory, has used similar legislation to crack down on independent news media and activists critical of the Kremlin.
Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of the capital, Tbilisi, in recent weeks to express opposition to the law, which critics say could jeopardize Georgia’s chances of joining the European Union and push the country back into Russia on track.
Georgian lawmakers approved the legislation on Tuesday, with 84 members of the country’s 150-member legislative body voting in favor.
Zurabichvili, accompanied by visiting foreign ministers from Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and Iceland, said in Tbilisi on Wednesday that the country had been fighting for independence and would “never return to Russian hands”.
“Today’s agenda is the following question: how to save Georgia,” Zurabichvili said, according to a translation.
People holding Georgian and European Union (EU) flags participate in a rally to celebrate Europe Day outside the official residence of President Salome Zurabishvili in Tbilisi on May 9, 2024.
Vano Shlamov | AFP | Getty Images
The Georgia president, a critic of the ruling Georgia Dream government, has said she intends to veto the bill. However, parliament can override her veto by holding an extra vote.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the passage of the foreign influence law, saying it would provide “strong guarantees” to ensure lasting peace in the country.
“No one who has read this law and understands that transparency is one of Europe’s key values cannot be against transparency,” Kobakhidze said. explain Tuesday.
West urges Georgia to ‘change course’
Georgia declared independence from the Soviet Union in 1991 and gained EU candidate status in December, and has historically maintained friendly relations with the West.
The so-called Russian law is still to be enacted, and its passage triggered a series of warnings from the United States, the European Union and NATO.
“The adoption of this law has a negative impact on Georgia’s progress on the EU path,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The choice of the path forward lies with Georgia. We urge the Georgian authorities to repeal the law, maintain their commitment to the EU path and advance the necessary reforms detailed in the nine steps. The EU stands ready to continue supporting Georgians in their efforts to achieve Europe’s The future,” he added.
financial times report Three unnamed EU officials said on Wednesday that the EU would freeze Georgia’s membership application if Georgia enacts a foreign influence bill. A vote on the bill is expected in the coming weeks.
CNBC could not independently verify the report. An EU spokesperson has been contacted for comment.
On May 14, 2024, in Tbilisi, Georgia, people gathered on Shota Rustaveli Street to protest against the approval of the “Foreign Influence Transparency” bill.
Anadolu | Anadolu | Getty Images
The United States said on Tuesday it was “deeply troubled” by Georgia’s decision to pass “Kremlin-style ‘foreign agent’ legislation.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a briefing that the law would force the United States to “fundamentally reassess” its relationship with Georgia.
“The Georgian government’s decision to pass legislation on so-called ‘foreign agents’ is a step in the wrong direction and pushes Georgia further away from Europe and – Atlantic integration.
“We urge #Georgia to change course and respect the right to peaceful protest,” Dakhlala said via social media platform X.
United Nations in Georgia explain In a statement on Tuesday, it “regrets” Georgia’s approval of the foreign influence bill, adding that the bill “poses a threat to freedom of expression and association.”
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