Georgia’s parliament voted on Tuesday to overrule President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto of a controversial “foreign agents” bill, disregarding Western criticism.
The parliament’s decision to overrule Zourabichvili’s veto paves the way for the bill to become law once the parliamentary speaker signs it in the coming days.
The legislation mandates that organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad must register as “agents of foreign influence.” Additionally, it imposes heavy fines for non-compliance and stringent disclosure requirements.
The bill has sparked significant opposition within Georgia, leading to some of the largest protests seen since the country’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Critics, including the U.S., Britain, and the European Union, argue that the law mirrors Russian regulations used to suppress dissent against President Vladimir Putin’s regime. Georgian opposition groups have dubbed it the “Russian law.”
Public sentiment in Georgia generally favors EU and NATO membership, and Russia remains unpopular due to its support for the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The U.S. has even threatened sanctions against Georgian officials who support the bill, signaling a major shift in American policy towards one of the most Western-aligned countries to emerge from the Soviet Union.
The Georgian government has accused Western nations of using blackmail tactics in their opposition to the bill and insists that the law is necessary to prevent foreign interference and to protect Georgia from being drawn into conflict with Russia.
Russia, while denying any involvement in promoting the bill, has defended it against Western criticism.
The legislation mandates that organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad must register as “agents of foreign influence.” Additionally, it imposes heavy fines for non-compliance and stringent disclosure requirements.
The bill has sparked significant opposition within Georgia, leading to some of the largest protests seen since the country’s independence from the Soviet Union in 1991.
Critics, including the U.S., Britain, and the European Union, argue that the law mirrors Russian regulations used to suppress dissent against President Vladimir Putin’s regime. Georgian opposition groups have dubbed it the “Russian law.”
Public sentiment in Georgia generally favors EU and NATO membership, and Russia remains unpopular due to its support for the separatist regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia.
The U.S. has even threatened sanctions against Georgian officials who support the bill, signaling a major shift in American policy towards one of the most Western-aligned countries to emerge from the Soviet Union.
The Georgian government has accused Western nations of using blackmail tactics in their opposition to the bill and insists that the law is necessary to prevent foreign interference and to protect Georgia from being drawn into conflict with Russia.
Russia, while denying any involvement in promoting the bill, has defended it against Western criticism.
‘The United States condemns this action’
The ruling party in Georgia has moved the country further from European integration by overriding President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
Miller emphasized on Tuesday that this decision will negatively affect Georgia’s future relations with the United States.
“By passing this law, the ruling Georgian Dream Party has taken the country off the path toward European integration and disregarded the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Georgian people, who have been protesting against this law for weeks,” said Miller.
“The ruling party’s actions and anti-Western rhetoric endanger Georgia’s democratic trajectory, future economic security, and EU membership prospects, and have put U.S.-Georgian relations at risk,” he added.
Miller also highlighted that the U.S. administration recently announced potential travel bans to the U.S. for individuals undermining democratic norms in Georgia and their families. He noted that the White House is conducting a comprehensive review of its relations with Georgia, with Tuesday’s vote expected to influence the outcome of this assessment.
The ruling party in Georgia has moved the country further from European integration by overriding President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto, according to State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
Miller emphasized on Tuesday that this decision will negatively affect Georgia’s future relations with the United States.
“By passing this law, the ruling Georgian Dream Party has taken the country off the path toward European integration and disregarded the Euro-Atlantic aspirations of the Georgian people, who have been protesting against this law for weeks,” said Miller.
“The ruling party’s actions and anti-Western rhetoric endanger Georgia’s democratic trajectory, future economic security, and EU membership prospects, and have put U.S.-Georgian relations at risk,” he added.
Miller also highlighted that the U.S. administration recently announced potential travel bans to the U.S. for individuals undermining democratic norms in Georgia and their families. He noted that the White House is conducting a comprehensive review of its relations with Georgia, with Tuesday’s vote expected to influence the outcome of this assessment.
Source: TVP World, Reuters
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