The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili announced in a post on "Facebook" that he signed the "family values" law, which limits the rights of the LGBT community, Reuters reported, as quoted by BTA.
This happens just a few weeks before the parliamentary elections, which are of key importance for the future of the country.
Deputies from the ruling party “Georgian dream“ approved the law last month, which bans gender reassignment, could make gay parades illegal and bans the flying of the rainbow flag associated with the LGBT community. According to the party, the law is necessary to protect the Georgian Orthodox Church from outside influence.
Georgia's President Salome Zurabishvili, an outspoken critic of the ruling party, refused to promulgate the law. However, “Georgian Dream” and her allies had enough MPs to override her veto.
The Georgian presidency has more limited powers compared to the parliament, which has the right to adopt the final laws.
Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated on social networks that the law does not reflect “current, temporary or changing ideas”, but is based on “common sense, historical experience and centuries-old Christian, Georgian and European values.“
LGBT activists say the law is an attempt at the “Georgian Dream” to boost support among conservative voters ahead of the Oct. 26 election, when the party will try to win a fourth term – something unprecedented in the history of Georgia.
Western countries have criticized the law, describing it as a “turn towards authoritarianism” and “rapprochement with Russia”, a country with which Georgia has sought to maintain stable relations since the collapse of the USSR.
Sociological studies show that “Georgian dream“ remains the most popular party in the country, although it has lost some of its electorate compared to the 2020 elections, when it won nearly 50% of the vote and an almost absolute majority in parliament.
„Georgian Dream“, created by Georgia's richest man, also passed a law requiring foreign-funded organizations to register as foreign agents. Opponents of this law claim that it is modeled on Russian legislation designed to repress dissent.
Relations with Russia continue to influence politics in Georgia, which is a candidate for joining NATO and the EU. Moscow supports separatists in two ethnic regions that broke away from Georgia after wars in the 1990s. In 2008, Russian forces defeated Georgia in a brief war. “Georgian Dream“ argued that its opponents would lead the country back to war, with the party pledging to maintain stronger relations with Russia.