Georgia’s parliament votes to override presidential veto of controversial ‘foreign agents’ law
The Georgian parliament has voted to override the presidential veto of the ‘foreign agents’ law despite widespread protests and international criticism.
The true beginning of the GD’s end – they have just overridden the Presidential veto on the Russian law, with again 84 in favor.
We shall prevail! ✊🏻🇬🇪🇪🇺
📷 @Mikiashvili_M pic.twitter.com/SRLI07jExV— Helen Khoshtaria (@Helenkhosh) May 28, 2024
People chant “Russians”, “Slaves” outside of the Georgian parliament as the ruling Georgian Dream adopts the Russian law on foreign agents pic.twitter.com/x74PZU3SH2
— Katie Shoshiashvili (@KShoshiashvili) May 28, 2024
Key events
Georgia’s interior ministry has asked protesters to allow members of parliament to leave the building.
In connection with manifestation on Rustaveli Avenue, police are mobilized to ensure safety. MIA calls on activists to enable members of parliament and employees of parliament administration leave building without interruption.https://t.co/ug8PHHTIWC
— MIA of Georgia (@MIAofGeorgia) May 28, 2024
Police are mobilised and protesters are outside the building, after Georgia’s parliament overrode a presidential veto and approved the controversial ‘foreign agents’ law.
Mass mobilization of police force at the left entrance of the parliament, Georgian Dream MPs are expected to leave the building. pic.twitter.com/G2o1IPTgKb
— Katie Shoshiashvili (@KShoshiashvili) May 28, 2024
Georgia’s parliament votes to override presidential veto of controversial ‘foreign agents’ law
The Georgian parliament has voted to override the presidential veto of the ‘foreign agents’ law despite widespread protests and international criticism.
The true beginning of the GD’s end – they have just overridden the Presidential veto on the Russian law, with again 84 in favor.
We shall prevail! ✊🏻🇬🇪🇪🇺
📷 @Mikiashvili_M pic.twitter.com/SRLI07jExV— Helen Khoshtaria (@Helenkhosh) May 28, 2024
People chant “Russians”, “Slaves” outside of the Georgian parliament as the ruling Georgian Dream adopts the Russian law on foreign agents pic.twitter.com/x74PZU3SH2
— Katie Shoshiashvili (@KShoshiashvili) May 28, 2024
Here’s footage from Tbilisi, as protesters watch developments in parliament.
Here are the latest images from Tbilisi.
Georgian parliament speaker defends controversial law
Shalva Papuashvili, the speaker of the Georgian parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream party, has issued a lengthy letter to his European counterparts defending the controversial ‘foreign agents’ law.
“What continues frustrating us, is the stigmatization of this Law by internal and external actors as well as their tendency for jumping to quick conclusions,” he wrote.
“I am confident that the time will show only one thing about the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence (attached to the letter) – its only purpose is to maintain integrity of political, economic and security systems and to strengthen resilience of Georgia in face of threats,” he argued.
The response letter to the speakers of the Parliaments of the Czech Republic, Lithuania, Netherlands, Estonia, France, Latvia, and Poland
Dear Colleagues,
I am thankful for your letter on the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence. I am glad to provide you with more details… pic.twitter.com/LT1C9iC4Ek
— Shalva Papuashvili 🇬🇪 (@shpapuashvili) May 28, 2024
Zuka Elbakidze, a student who was among protesters rallying in Tbilisi ahead of today’s vote, told the Associated Press that “this day will determine the fate of our country,” adding that “we are making a choice between Europe and Russia, and all the people gathered here, except the policemen, want Europe and the West.”
“We are physically witnessing, literally witnessing, how Georgian citizens, how members of the Georgian Parliament are selling out our country,” said another protester, Mariam Geguchadze.
Here’s more footage of protesters who have gathered outside Georgia’s parliament.
The current situation outside the Georgian Parliament, as the ruling party’s MPs are poised to override the President’s veto of the controversial foreign agents law. pic.twitter.com/OMAf94QYjg
— GAMZIRI24 (@GAMZIRI24) May 28, 2024
Irakli Kadagishvili, chair of the Georgian parliament’s committee on procedural issues, said today that legislative activity of a sovereign country was “not subject to any sanctions by any international standards.”
“Today, we will have to override the [president’s] veto on the transparency law,” he said.
The ruling Georgian Dream party’s X account reposted the comments.
Parliament Committee Chair says legislative activity of sovereign country “not subject to sanctions” https://t.co/T7A1R94fAi
— Agenda Georgia (@AgendaGeorgia) May 28, 2024
Here are more images from Tbilisi today.
Last week, the speakers of seven European parliaments called on Georgia’s parliament to withdraw the controversial ‘foreign agents’ law.
🇪🇪🇱🇻🇱🇹🇵🇱🇳🇱🇫🇷🇨🇿 We, the Speakers of seven European nations, urge #Georgia to stay on its #EU path. We call on the Georgian Parliament to withdraw the law on Transparency of Foreign Influence. pic.twitter.com/eLqgye9l2a
— Viktorija Cmilyte-Nielsen (@VCmilyte) May 27, 2024
Footage from Georgia earlier today.
🔴Protesters began gathering at the Parliament’s central entrance around 11:00 as the ruling Georgian Dream party readies to override Presidential veto on #ForeignAgentsLaw today. Larger rally is scheduled for 17:00.
📹Gigi Kobakhidze/Civil.ge pic.twitter.com/aLh4XrzrP5— Civil.ge (@CivilGe) May 28, 2024
There are reports of masked police in the Georgian parliament building.
Here are the latest images from Tbilisi.
Why is Georgia’s foreign agents law so controversial?
Under the law, non-governmental organisations and media outlets that receive more than 20% of their funds from donors outside the country would be obliged to register as organisations “bearing the interests of a foreign power”.
The organisations would also face reporting requirements and could be forced to share sensitive information. And they would be heavily penalised for non-compliance.
Civil society groups, along with many Georgians, have expressed outrage about the legislation.
Opponents of the law say there is little funding available within Georgia outside government and political groups, and that foreign funding helps maintain an independent civil society sector. Some NGO leaders have said they would refuse to register under the new law.
But there is also a sense now in Georgia that the crisis is about much more than NGOs and the media, and that the country’s future – including its democracy and relationship with the west – is at stake.
Read the full explainer here.
Protesters gather in Tbilisi
Opponents of Georgia’s ‘foreign agents’ law are expecting protests to grow over the coming hours.
Senior German lawmaker asks Georgian MPs to ‘take the chance’
Michael Roth, chairman of the German Bundestag’s foreign affairs committee, has called on Georgian lawmakers to vote against the law.
“The message of the Georgian people is crystal clear: Stop the foreign agent law! Dear colleagues of the Georgian Parliament, Take the chance today! Bring your great country back on track,” he said.
For us politicians it’s crucial, to listen to our people carefully. The message of the Georgian people is crystal clear: Stop the foreign agent law!
Dear colleagues of the 🇬🇪Parliament, Take the chance today!
Bring your great country back on track.The future of 🇬🇪 is 🇪🇺!
— Michael Roth – official 🇪🇺🇺🇦🇮🇱🇬🇪 (@MiRo_SPD) May 28, 2024
Georgia’s parliament to vote on overriding ‘foreign agents’ law veto
Georgia’s parliament is expected to vote today on whether to override a presidential veto of a highly controversial ‘foreign agents’ law which has sparked mass protests and condemnation from western governments.
Salome Zourabichvili, Georgia’s president, said she vetoed the legislation because “this law, in its essence and spirit, is fundamentally Russian, contradicting our constitution and all European standards. It thus represents an obstacle to our European path.”
Today, I vetoed the Russian law. This law, in its essence and spirit, is fundamentally Russian, contradicting our constitution and all European standards. It thus represents an obstacle to our European path.
This law must be repealed! pic.twitter.com/yNCGI7jqaF
— Salome Zourabichvili (@Zourabichvili_S) May 18, 2024
A parliamentary committee on Monday rejected the veto, and the full plenary is set to make a decision today.
Protesters are outside Georgia’s parliament to show their opposition to the law, which has taken on a highly symbolic meaning. Critics of the law say its approval would be a major step away from the path of western integration.
“The law on foreign influence is not in line with EU values,” the bloc’s foreign policy chief, Josep Borrell, said this week. “If the law is enacted, it will impact Georgia’s EU path,” he stressed.
People are gathering outside the parliament now as GD MPs are expected to override the president veto on foreign agents bill, final stage to formalise the adoption of the bill. pic.twitter.com/cC0VrvCv5o
— Mariam Nikuradze (@mari_nikuradze) May 28, 2024
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