Georgia’s president joins the protests against the “Russian law”

Georgia’s president, Salome Zourabichvili, has actively participated in public protests against a proposed law that could steer Georgia away from European integration and closer to Russian influence.

Georgia’s president has declared her intention to veto (the Russian law) a contentious bill recently approved by the Georgian parliament. She criticized the law as “unacceptable,” aligning with opponents who see it as a significant threat to free speech and democratic principles.

In an interview with The Associated Press, Zourabichvili condemned the Georgian Dream party, which is in power, for promoting the bill. She argued that this move undermines Georgia’s goals of joining the European Union.

The proposed legislation would require media outlets, non-governmental organizations, and other nonprofit entities to register as “foreign agents” if they receive over 20% of their funding from international sources.

According to the government, this measure is essential to counteract harmful foreign influences that might destabilize Georgia, a nation with a population of 3.7 million. Critics, however, warn that it would severely restrict the operations of pro-democracy NGOs and similar groups.

Why is the “Russian law” nickname?

Dubbed the “Russian law” because of its resemblance to laws in Russia, this bill has sparked considerable debate.

Zourabichvili expressed her disapproval, stating that the bill signals a shift in Georgian policies towards civil society and the media, contradicting European Commission recommendations and Georgia’s professed European integration goals.

She reiterated her plan to veto the bill, emphasizing that it contradicts both the spirit and the letter of EU guidelines.

Zourabichvili has found herself increasingly at odds with the Georgian Dream party, which has enough parliamentary seats to override her veto. She has until May 28, 14 days from the bill’s passage, to take action.

The opposition party, United National Movement, accuses Georgian Dream of attempting to align Georgia with Russia, a claim that the ruling party denies.

Georgian Dream was established by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a billionaire and former prime minister who amassed his wealth in Russia.

Zourabichvili noted that it is unclear whether the bill is solely the ruling party’s initiative or if it is influenced by Moscow, but she stressed that Russia is unhappy with Georgia’s Western-oriented trajectory.

“It is evident that Moscow is not pleased with Georgia’s rapid progress towards the European Union,” she said.

She emphasized her constitutional obligation to do everything in her power to support and solidify European integration.

Declarations of Georgia’s president about the “Russian law”

“The authorities are failing to meet the country’s expectations, and the public is reacting because it desires European integration and does not want to miss the opportunity to start accession negotiations later this year,” Zourabichvili stated.

This bill mirrors a previous proposal that the Georgian Dream party had to withdraw last year following public protests. New protests have erupted recently, with police deploying tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators opposing the law and its potential impacts.

The opposition criticizes the bill, calling it “the Russian law” because of its similarity to measures used by the Kremlin to suppress independent media, NGOs, and activists.

European Council President Charles Michel recently stated that if Georgians wish to join the EU, they must adhere to fundamental principles of the rule of law and democracy.

Zourabichvili pointed out that when Georgia achieved EU candidate status last year, the government should have focused on passing the required reforms to qualify for full accession talks.

“The parliament should be working diligently to meet the recommendations we have regarding judicial reforms, the independence of the anti-corruption agency, and other issues,” she said.

“Instead, rather than doing what is expected of us, the parliament is working on a law that was rejected last year and criticized by all our European partners as inconsistent with European values and objectives.”