Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili has told TVP World of her plans to veto the controversial ‘foreign agents’ bill and labeled it “a Russian law.”
“It’s very clearly a law that replicates the legislation gradually installed in Russia and through which Russia has managed to control the media,” she said. “Even more, Russian is the spirit of this law as it will treat the partners and friends of Georgia that have supported us since independence as possible agents that want to subvert the country.”
Continuing, Zourabichvili slammed the ruling Georgian Dream party for allowing work on the bill to take precedence over all else. “Instead of working on the main issues and reforms [needed to pave the way for EU accession] they are working on a law that is more Russian than European. The bill is a provocation to society that will fuel more polarization.”
Zourabichvili rejected the possibility of reaching a compromise. “Why should I make a compromise,” she asked. “This bill has already been rejected by the people and our European partners. It is clearly an obstruction to Europe.”
She added: “This law represents a different direction for Georgia and does not conform to either democratic or Georgian values so it cannot be amended. There is no space for minor modifications.”
Continuing, Zourabichvili slammed the ruling Georgian Dream party for allowing work on the bill to take precedence over all else. “Instead of working on the main issues and reforms [needed to pave the way for EU accession] they are working on a law that is more Russian than European. The bill is a provocation to society that will fuel more polarization.”
Zourabichvili rejected the possibility of reaching a compromise. “Why should I make a compromise,” she asked. “This bill has already been rejected by the people and our European partners. It is clearly an obstruction to Europe.”
She added: “This law represents a different direction for Georgia and does not conform to either democratic or Georgian values so it cannot be amended. There is no space for minor modifications.”
Source: TVP World
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