Georgian president vetoes foreign influence law as Russian in spirit
May 19, 2024
Berlin [Germany], may 19: Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili on Saturday vetoed a controversial law against NGOs passed by parliament, in an expected move after the bill was approved.
Pro-European Zurabishvili said the law, which requires foreign-funded organizations to register as "foreign agents", was "Russian in its essence and spirit." However, her veto can be overruled by parliament. On Tuesday, Georgia's parliament passed the controversial legislation despite angry protests in Tbilisi and urging by the European Union and the United States not to adopt it.
Thousands of people have been demonstrating against the law, fearing it threatens Georgia's path to EU membership and the silencing of organizations and media critical of the government - as in Russia, which has passed similar legislation.
Georgia has EU candidate country status since the end of last year. (DPA)
Source: Qatar Tribune
