On Saturday, May 18th, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the “foreign agents” law, which among other things targets the media, and has been the cause of weeks-long protests by Georgians.
According to this law, media outlets and non-governmental organizations would be required to register as entities “representing the interests of foreign powers” if more than 20 percent of their funding comes from abroad.
Critics argue that the law resembles the Russian legal solution used by President Vladimir Putin to suppress opposition and independent media. The law was passed on Tuesday, May 14th, despite weeks of protests in the country and warnings from the West.
The period before and after the law’s passage was marked by massive demonstrations by tens of thousands of Georgians, which were repeatedly violently suppressed with tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets.
Earlier in the week, Zourabichvili announced that she would veto the law, stating that she finds it “unacceptable” and a clear departure from the country’s European path.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, which pushed the law through parliament, has a sufficient majority to override her veto.
There is a possibility that the European Union (EU) will freeze the country’s membership candidacy due to the law.
Assistant Secretary of State James O’Brien, who was in Tbilisi the day before the law was passed, said that Washington’s relations with Georgia would be at risk and that the United States (U.S.) assistance to Georgia would be subject to review if the proposed law is adopted.
“If the law is passed without alignment with EU norms and if such rhetoric and slander against the U.S. and other partners continue, I think the relationship is at risk,” O’Brien said.
A similar law was proposed in the Georgian parliament last year but was withdrawn after massive protests. A few months ago, practically the same legislative solution with minor changes was brought back before the deputies, Slobodna Evropa writes.
E.Dz.
