TBILISI, Georgia (AP) 鈥� Georgia鈥檚 president on Saturday vetoed the so-called 鈥淩ussian law鈥� targeting media that has sparked .
The legislation would require media and non-governmental organizations to register as 鈥減ursuing the interests of a foreign power鈥� if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. Critics of the bill say it closely resembles legislation used by the Kremlin to silence opponents, and that it will obstruct Georgia鈥檚 bid to join the EU.
, who is increasingly at odds with Georgia鈥檚 ruling party, said on Saturday that the legislation contradicts Georgia鈥檚 Constitution and 鈥渁ll European standards,鈥� and added that it 鈥渕ust be abolished.鈥�
The ruling party, Georgian Dream, has a majority sufficient to override Zourabichvili鈥檚 veto, and is widely expected to do so in the coming days.
The Georgian government insists that the proposed law is intended to promote transparency and curb what it deems harmful foreign influence in the country of 3.7 million. Many Georgian journalists and campaigners fiercely dispute this characterization, saying they are already subject to audit and monitoring requirements. They say that the bill's true goal is to stigmatize them and restrict debate ahead of parliamentary elections scheduled for October.
The EU offered Georgia candidate status last December, while making it clear that Tbilisi needs to implement key policy recommendations for its membership bid to progress. The recommendations concern, among other areas, elections that must be remain free and fair, fighting disinformation 鈥渁gainst the EU and its values," and safeguarding the independence of public institutions such as the central bank and anti-corruption bodies.
The opposition United National Movement and many protesters accuse Georgian Dream of trying to scupper the EU integration process, and to instead drag Georgia into Russia鈥檚 sphere of influence 鈥� allegations the ruling party vehemently rejects. Georgian Dream was founded by Bidzina Ivanishvili, a former prime minister and billionaire who made his fortune in Russia.
The bill is nearly identical to one that the party was pressured to withdraw last year after street protests. Renewed demonstrations have rocked Georgia for weeks, with demonstrators scuffling with police, who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them. An opposition lawmaker earlier this month spoke in Parliament with a bandaged face, visible bruises and cuts. His allies said he had been assaulted by police during the protests.
EU officials and Western leaders have repeatedly expressed concerns over the law, as well as Tbilisi's heavy-handed response to dissent. The EU's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, issued a statement Wednesday in support of the Georgian protesters, and to condemn what he described as a wave of violence against opposition politicians, activists, journalists and their families.
European Council President Charles Michel said Tuesday that if Georgians 鈥渨ant to join the EU, they have to respect the fundamental principles of the rule of law and the democratic principles.鈥�
Zourabichvili told The Associated Press in an interview Thursday that it was hard to say whether the bill was Georgian Dream鈥檚 initiative or if Moscow had played any role in its passage, but she emphasized that the Kremlin is unhappy with Georgia鈥檚 pro-Western aspirations.
鈥淚t鈥檚 clear that Moscow is not seeing with lots of appreciation this accelerated pace of Georgia towards the European Union,鈥� she said.
Russia-Georgia relations have been strained and turbulent since the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union and Georgia鈥檚 departure from its role as a Soviet republic.
In 2008, Russia fought a brief war with Georgia, which had made a botched attempt to regain control over the breakaway province of 小蓝视频 Ossetia. Moscow then recognized 小蓝视频 Ossetia and another separatist province, Abkhazia, as independent states and strengthened its military presence there. .
Tbilisi cut diplomatic ties with Moscow, and the regions鈥� status remains a key irritant in recent years.
The Associated Press
