The European Parliament has passed a resolution regarding Georgia’s situation in light of the proposed bill “On the Transparency of Foreign Influence.” The resolution states that talks about Georgia joining the European Union should not commence until the law is enacted. This information was disclosed by “Echo of the Caucasus.”
Furthermore, the European Parliament has urged for penalties against Bidzina Ivanishvili, the honorary chairman of the ruling party “Georgian Dream,” and for the liberation of former president Mikheil Saakashvili from incarceration. Additionally, “Georgian Dream” has been advised to retract the proposed constitutional amendments defining marriage as the union of one man and one woman, as this infringes on the rights of the LGBT community.
The bill “On the Transparency of Foreign Influence” outlines the establishment of a registry for “foreign agents” in Georgia, mirroring the Russian system. Non-profit organizations and media entities receiving over 20% of their annual income from foreign sources will be listed. These organizations must submit financial statements annually, with a penalty of approximately 25,000 lari (around $9,500) for non-compliance. Despite attempts by the parties “Georgian Dream” and “Strength is in Unity” to pass the bill in 2023, it was withdrawn due to widespread protests. Finally, on April 17, 2024, the bill was approved in its initial reading. President Salome Zourabichvili has vowed to veto the legislation if it passes through all three readings.
Original source: theins.ru