Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has vetoed a controversial draft law on foreign agents, which has sparked widespread protests and international criticism. The proposed legislation would require organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence, subjecting them to stringent disclosure requirements and heavy fines for violations.
Zourabichvili, in a statement reported by Russia's TASS news agency, denounced the bill as fundamentally "Russian in its essence and spirit," arguing that it contradicts the Georgian constitution and all European standards. She emphasized that the law represents a significant obstacle to Georgia's aspirations for European integration.
Despite the President's veto, the Georgian Parliament, which is controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party and its allies, is expected to override her decision. This legislative action underscores a significant domestic and international conflict over the direction of Georgia's political and economic alignment.
Mass protests in Tbilisi, the capital, have been ongoing since the draft law passed its first reading in Parliament. Opponents view the bill as a potential pivot away from European integration and a move towards closer ties with Russia, a sentiment echoed by the President in her veto announcement.
The United States and the European Union have both expressed serious concerns about the bill, warning that it could jeopardize Georgia's bid to join the EU and damage its democratic development. These international entities have urged the Georgian Dream party to withdraw the legislation to preserve the country's European trajectory.
President Zourabichvili's veto represents a critical moment in Georgia's ongoing political struggle, highlighting the tension between pro-European and pro-Russian influences within the country. The ultimate decision of the Parliament will be a significant indicator of Georgia's future direction in terms of international alignment and domestic governance.
