Georgia President Vetoes “Foreign Influence” Bill Amid Controversy and Protests

Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili has made a bold move by vetoing the controversial “foreign influence” bill that has ignited protests and drawn criticism from Brussels. The bill, which has been likened to Russian legislation used to suppress dissent, requires NGOs and media outlets with significant foreign funding to register as bodies “pursuing the interests of a foreign power”.

Zourabichvili, in a televised statement, described the law as “Russian in its essence” and incompatible with European standards. Critics fear that the bill would stifle media freedom and jeopardize Georgia’s aspirations to join the EU.

Despite the president’s veto, the parliament, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, is expected to override it. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has expressed willingness to consider Zourabichvili’s proposed amendments, but the president has rejected the idea of engaging in what she calls “misleading negotiations” with the ruling party.

The bill has sparked mass demonstrations in Tbilisi, with NGOs and media outlets expressing concerns about potential closures if they fail to comply with the new regulations. The EU and the US have both warned Georgia against adopting the bill, citing its negative impact on the country’s European integration efforts.

As Georgia stands at a crossroads, with its relationship with Russia and its EU aspirations hanging in the balance, the outcome of the parliamentary vote on the controversial bill will have far-reaching implications for the country’s future.