TBILISI: The speaker of Georgia’s parliament has said he gave the final endorsement to a divisive “foreign agents” bill that has prompted weeks of protest demonstrations by critics who say it will restrict media freedom and jeopardize Georgia’s chances of joining the European Union (EU), western media reported.
Shalva Papuashvili inked the bill into law following the legislature, controlled by the ruling Georgian Dream party, rejected the veto of President Salome Zourabichvili. The bill, which was passed by Parliament last month, needs media, nongovernmental organizations and other groups to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive over 20 percent of their money from abroad.
Zourabichvili vetoed the bill, accusing the governing party of jeopardizing the nation’s future and “hindering the path toward becoming a member of the democratic world.”
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However, the government argues that there is need of the law to stem what it deems to be harmful foreign elements attempting to destabilize the South Caucasus nation of 3.7 million, but many journalists and activists say that the bill’s main goal is to stigmatize them and restrict debate ahead of parliamentary polls scheduled for October.
