On May 28, 2024, demonstrators protesting against the “foreign influence” law gathered outside the parliament building in central Tbilisi.
Vano Shlamov | AFP | Getty Images
Georgian lawmakers voted on Tuesday to override the president’s veto of a Russian-style “foreign agents” law, advancing legislation that has triggered mass protests and international condemnation in the South Caucasus nation.
The United States, the European Union, NATO and the United Nations have all expressed concern about the bill, which critics say could jeopardize Georgia’s chances of joining the EU and push the country back into Russia’s orbit.
The “foreign agents” law 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.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the controversial legislation on May 18, explain He said on social media at the time that “fundamentally Russian” laws were “an obstacle on our road to Europe.”
Zurabicvili, a critic of the ruling Georgian Dream government, has called for the law to be repealed.
The Georgian Dream party insists the legislation is necessary despite the country’s biggest demonstrations since it declared independence from the Soviet Union more than three decades ago.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the bill would provide “strong guarantees” to ensure lasting peace in the country.
“This is a very sad day for Georgia”
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabriel Landsbergis said Tuesday’s vote was “a very sad day for Georgia and the rest of Europe”.
“The passage of this law effectively puts Georgia’s EU accession process on hold and does no one any good,” Landsbergs said via X.
“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 May 15.
“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.
Separately, the United States said it was “deeply troubled” by Georgia’s decision to pass “Kremlin-style ‘foreign agent’ legislation.”
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a press conference on May 14 that the law would force the United States to “fundamentally reassess” its relationship with Georgia.
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