President Salome Zourabichvili of Georgia has vetoed a bill on foreign influence that threatens to derail the nation’s pro-European aspirations in favor of closer ties with Russia. The veto is seen as a symbolic move in the political conflict between the pro-Western opposition and the ruling Georgian Dream party. If the Parliament overrides the veto, the law could pass as early as May 28, leading to possible sanctions from American and European officials.
Georgia has been a pro-Western trailblazer among former Soviet states, but the political crisis has raised doubts about the country’s pro-Western direction. The crisis has highlighted the polarized nature of Georgian politics, with the draft law sparking protests and drawing condemnation from both local and international actors. The bill, titled “On Transparency of Foreign Influence,” requires organizations receiving 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations carrying the interests of a foreign power.
The ruling party argues that the law is necessary to protect Georgia’s sovereignty from outside interference, while the opposition views it as a “Russian law” aimed at aligning Georgia with Moscow. President Zourabichvili, who originally received support from the Georgian Dream party, has become a vocal critic of the bill and has called for its repeal. The law gives broad powers to the justice ministry to monitor compliance and imposes significant fines for violations.
Since the introduction of the draft law, protests in Tbilisi have escalated, with demonstrators, including students, marching through the streets against the bill. Violent clashes have occurred between protesters and riot police, leading to arrests and reports of intimidation by authorities. President Zourabichvili, though largely ceremonial, has emerged as a key figure in the opposition to the ruling party, leveraging her political background and public support to advocate against the law.
The ruling party, led by oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, organized a rally in support of the bill, while conservative groups also marched in a church procession backing the legislation. Supporters of the bill have expressed nostalgia for the past Soviet era and voiced anti-American sentiments, suggesting a desire to return to a closer relationship with Russia. The bill remains a point of contention in Georgia, reflecting the country’s geopolitical importance in a volatile region.
President Zourabichvili’s veto is a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in Georgia, with the fate of the bill hanging in the balance. The international community is closely monitoring the situation, with concerns about Georgia’s future direction and its stance on foreign influence. The outcome of the parliamentary session on May 28 will be crucial in determining the next steps for Georgia, its relations with Western allies, and its standing in the region amidst growing tensions.
