TBILISI, Ga. (AP) – Georgia's president sparked an incident Saturday by vetoing a so-called “Russia law” targeting the media. Weeks of massive protests.
The bill would require media outlets and non-governmental organizations that receive 20% or more of their funding from foreign sources to register as “foreign power interests.” Critics of the bill say it closely resembles legislation used by the Kremlin to silence opponents and would prevent Georgia from joining the EU.
President Salome ZurabichviliThe president, who is at odds with Georgia's ruling party, said on Saturday that the bill was inconsistent with Georgia's constitution and “all European standards,” adding: “It must be abolished.”
The ruling Georgian Dream party has a strong enough majority to override Zurabichvili's veto, and is widely expected to do so within days.
The Georgian government claims the bill aims to promote transparency and curb harmful foreign influence in the country of 3.7 million people. Many Georgian journalists and campaigners strongly dispute this characterization, saying they are already subject to auditing and monitoring requirements. They say the bill's real purpose is to stigmatize them and limit debate in the run-up to parliamentary elections scheduled for October.
The EU offered Georgia candidate status in December last year, while making clear that Tbilisi needed to implement key policy recommendations to advance its membership bid. The recommendations address, inter alia, the areas of elections that must remain free and fair, the fight against disinformation “against the EU and its values” and the protection of the independence of public institutions such as central banks and anti-corruption bodies. is related to.
The opposition United National Movement and many protesters have accused Georgian Dream of trying to undermine the EU integration process and instead drag Georgia into Russia's sphere of influence, but the ruling party has rejected this claim. is vehemently rejected. Georgian Dream was founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister and billionaire who made his fortune in Russia.
The bill is almost identical to one the party was pressured to withdraw last year after street protests. A resurgence of demonstrations in Georgia has sparked weeks of unrest, with demonstrators clashing with police who used tear gas and water cannon to disperse them. Earlier this month, the opposition lawmaker addressed parliament with his face bandaged and bruises and cuts visible. His supporters said he was assaulted by police during the protests.
EU officials and Western leaders have repeatedly expressed concern about the law and Tbilisi's heavy-handed response to dissent. The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, issued a statement Wednesday supporting Georgia's protesters and condemning a wave of violence against opposition politicians, activists, journalists and their families.
European Council President Charles Michel said on Tuesday that Georgians “must respect the fundamental principles of the rule of law and democratic principles if they want to join the EU.”
Zurabichvili said in an interview with The Associated Press on Thursday that it is difficult to say whether the bill was an initiative of Georgian Dream or whether Moscow played any role in its passage, but the Kremlin is He emphasized that he was dissatisfied with his aspirations.
“It is clear that the Russian government does not appreciate Georgia's accelerated pace towards the European Union very highly,” she said.
Relations between Russia and Georgia have been tense and turbulent since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 and Georgia's withdrawal from its role as a Soviet republic.
In 2008, Russia fought a brief war with Georgia in an unsuccessful attempt to regain control of the breakaway province of South Ossetia. Moscow subsequently recognized South Ossetia and another separatist region, Abkhazia, as independent states and strengthened its military presence there. Most people around the world consider both regions to be part of Georgia..
Tbilisi breaks off diplomatic relations with Moscow, regional status remains a major irritant Although relations between Russia and Georgia have improved in recent years.
