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Jeers in Tbilisi as parliament overrides presidential veto on 'foreign agent' law
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Description

Protesters in Tbilisi expressed their disapproval of the parliament's decision to override Georgian President Zurabishvili's veto a foreign agents law, at a rally that was held during the parliament vote on Tuesday.

Footage captures attendees observing the parliamentary meeting on a large screen while many were jeering and booing.

At the time of publication, no detentions during the rally were officially reported.

On May 14, the Georgian Parliament approved the bill in its third reading with a significant majority; 84 votes in favour and 30 against. President Salome Zurabishvili announced on May 18 that she vetoed the law, calling the document 'an obstacle on our European path'.

In turn, the Georgian parliament announced that MPs would begin the veto override procedure on May 27. The law will be sent to the president again once the necessary number of votes is obtained. If Zurabishvili refuses to sign the law, it will be signed and published by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

Protests against the legislation first began last month. Western nations and blocs, including the US, UK and EU, have condemned it, with the latter releasing a statement warning that the law 'is not in line with EU core norms and values' and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.

Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 per cent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'.

Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.

Jeers in Tbilisi as parliament overrides presidential veto on 'foreign agent' law

Tbilisi
May 28, 2024 at 18:21 GMT +00:00 · Published

Protesters in Tbilisi expressed their disapproval of the parliament's decision to override Georgian President Zurabishvili's veto a foreign agents law, at a rally that was held during the parliament vote on Tuesday.

Footage captures attendees observing the parliamentary meeting on a large screen while many were jeering and booing.

At the time of publication, no detentions during the rally were officially reported.

On May 14, the Georgian Parliament approved the bill in its third reading with a significant majority; 84 votes in favour and 30 against. President Salome Zurabishvili announced on May 18 that she vetoed the law, calling the document 'an obstacle on our European path'.

In turn, the Georgian parliament announced that MPs would begin the veto override procedure on May 27. The law will be sent to the president again once the necessary number of votes is obtained. If Zurabishvili refuses to sign the law, it will be signed and published by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

Protests against the legislation first began last month. Western nations and blocs, including the US, UK and EU, have condemned it, with the latter releasing a statement warning that the law 'is not in line with EU core norms and values' and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.

Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 per cent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'.

Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.

Description

Protesters in Tbilisi expressed their disapproval of the parliament's decision to override Georgian President Zurabishvili's veto a foreign agents law, at a rally that was held during the parliament vote on Tuesday.

Footage captures attendees observing the parliamentary meeting on a large screen while many were jeering and booing.

At the time of publication, no detentions during the rally were officially reported.

On May 14, the Georgian Parliament approved the bill in its third reading with a significant majority; 84 votes in favour and 30 against. President Salome Zurabishvili announced on May 18 that she vetoed the law, calling the document 'an obstacle on our European path'.

In turn, the Georgian parliament announced that MPs would begin the veto override procedure on May 27. The law will be sent to the president again once the necessary number of votes is obtained. If Zurabishvili refuses to sign the law, it will be signed and published by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

Protests against the legislation first began last month. Western nations and blocs, including the US, UK and EU, have condemned it, with the latter releasing a statement warning that the law 'is not in line with EU core norms and values' and would 'negatively impact Georgia's progress on its EU path'.

Under the legislation, those groups receiving more than 20 per cent of funding from abroad would be required to register as 'foreign agents'.

Critics have compared the bill to what they see as 'Russian' laws intended to stifle dissent, while the governing party claims the move is about transparency and protecting democracy from foreign interference and imposed 'pseudo-liberal values'.

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