Protesters protest against ‘foreign influence’ laws outside the parliament building in central Tbilisi, May 28, 2024.
Vano Shulamov | Afp | getty images
Georgia lawmakers voted Tuesday to override the president’s veto of a Russian-style “foreign agents” law, advancing legislation that has sparked international condemnation and mass protests in the south Caucasus country.
The United States, the European Union, NATO and the United Nations have all expressed concerns about the bill, which critics say could jeopardize Georgia’s chances of joining the EU and push the country back into Russia’s orbit.
The Foreign Agents Act requires domestic media outlets, nonprofits and other non-governmental organizations to declare that they are “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources.
Russia, which accounts for about 20% of Georgia’s internationally recognized territory, has been using similar legislation to crack down on independent media outlets and activists critical of the Kremlin.
Georgian President Salome Djurabichvili vetoed the controversial bill on May 18, saying on social media platform
Zourabichvili, a critic of the ruling Georgian Dream government, called for the law to be repealed.
The Georgian Dream party has insisted the law is necessary despite it sparking the biggest protests since the country declared independence from the Soviet Union more than 30 years ago.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said the bill would create “strong guarantees” that would help ensure long-term peace in the country.
‘A very sad day for Georgia’
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis said Tuesday’s vote was “a very sad day for Georgia and the rest of Europe.”
“The passage of this law effectively puts Georgia’s EU accession on hold and is in no one’s interest,” Landsbergis said in X.
“The adoption of this law has a negative impact on Georgia’s progress on the EU path,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said in a statement on May 15.
“The choice about the way forward lies in Georgia’s hands. We urge the Georgian authorities to withdraw the law, maintain their commitment to the EU path and advance the necessary reforms detailed in step 9. The EU supports Georgians We are ready to continue supporting their efforts to shape the future of Europe.”
Separately, the United States expressed “serious concerns” about Georgia’s decision to pass a Kremlin-style “foreign agents” bill.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said at a May 14 briefing that the law would force the United States to “fundamentally reassess” its relationship with Georgia.
