President Salomé Zurabishvili denounces “a rogue law at a time when our European future is being decided”

“The Georgian people are pro-European and it didn’t start tonight.” Questioned by franceinfo, Thursday March 9, lGeorgian President Salome Zurabishvili commented on the two days of protests in this former Caucasian Soviet republic to denounce a repressive bill, which the government renounced earlier in the day. “Tomorrow, the law will be formally withdrawn in Parliament”said the Head of State. “It is a rogue law at a time when our European future is taking shape”, continued cThis pro-Western woman, critical of the government of her country but whose powers are limited.

The Georgian government is accused of wanting to introduce legislation inspired by the Russian model to classify as “foreign agents” NGOs and media receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad, on pain of a fine. “I have indicated that I will veto any new law that risks running counter to the spirit of the 12 recommendations given to us by the European Union to obtain candidate status [à l’entrée dans l’UE]essential for the future of the future of Georgia”she hammered.

The EU, which had granted candidate status to Ukraine and Moldova, demanded that Georgia carry out several reforms before obtaining a similar status. “The fact that Georgia didn’t get candidate status was a kind of warninganalyzed Salome Zurabishvili. Un second refusal, it would be dramatic for Georgia. It would be extremely dangerous because Russia could consider that Georgia becomes a gray zone where the interest of Europe and the West is less. Strategically, Georgia should be granted candidate status this time around.”insisted the Georgian President.