In recent weeks, the European Union has also warned Georgian authorities in vain against adopting the law described as pro-Russian. It could undermine Tbilisi’s EU aspirations, as Georgia is slated to start accession negotiations with Brussels.
Nevertheless, the ruling Georgian Dream party passed the legislation last week. Tens of thousands of protesters fear the ex-Soviet republic is deviating from a pro-Western course and returning to Russia’s sphere of influence.
According to recent polls, more than three-quarters of the population want the country to join the European Union and NATO. “Today I issued a veto against the law, which is essentially Russian and contradicts our constitution,” President Zourabichvili said in a televised statement. The law bears many similarities to Russian legislation used to silence dissenting opinions.
Brussels has said the measure is “incompatible” with Georgia’s pursuit of EU membership, which is enshrined in the country’s constitution. EU President Charles Michel said the president’s veto represents “a moment for further reflection.” He called on parliament to “seize this opportunity properly” to keep Georgia on the EU path.
Georgian Dream has enough parliamentary seats to override the veto. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said his party is willing to consider legislative amendments. But the president—who has a strained relationship with the ruling party—refuses to engage in “false, artificial, misleading negotiations” with Georgian Dream.
The controversial 'Russian law' requires organizations and media outlets that receive more than twenty percent of their funding from abroad to register as entities pursuing the interests of a foreign power.