Citizens of Georgia are faced with an "existential choice" between Russia and Europe, said the president of the country, Salome Zurabishvili, commenting on the law on "foreign agents", radio "Echo of the Caucasus" broadcast. and quoted by Ukrinform.
Commenting on the decision of the ruling party “Georgian Dream“ to continue pushing the controversial “foreign agents“ and the dispersal of protests against the initiative, the Georgian leader said that “the problem is much more serious than the draft law on the transparency of foreign influence, the main thing is what will happen in the elections”, quoted by BTA.
„The problem is significantly more serious than this draft law, which will be adopted in about a month and a half. I will veto it, which will delay it. The main question is what will happen in the elections in October next year. A large number of laws have been passed which show that the ruling party is trying to bring Georgia closer to Russia. This is something that for the last 30 years the majority of the population of Georgia, 80% of them, say they do not want,”, Zurabishvili said.
Commenting on the recent statement of the founder of “Georgian dream“ Bidzina Ivanishvili, who assured the public that the ruling party will continue with the adoption of the law despite criticism from the country and abroad, the president said that this is how he “declares Georgia's partners - the West and the European Union - as enemies and agents who are trying to organize revolution in Georgia”. Therefore, according to her, the citizens will have to vote for Europe or for Russia in the next elections.
„This law is a symbol, but in fact there is a choice - a decision, an existential choice that Georgia must make during the vote: Europe or Russia”, Zurabishvili said.
Ukrinform recalls that yesterday the Georgian parliament approved the second reading of the law “On transparency of foreign influence”. "For" 83 deputies voted, "against" - 23. Earlier, President Salome Zurabishvili promised to veto the document if it was adopted in the third reading. The ruling party "Georgian Dream" however, it has enough votes to override a presidential veto.
The United States condemned the bill "For transparency of foreign influence" and the violence used by the authorities against the protesters in Tbilisi.