Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has urged a group of EU ambassadors to support Georgia on its “European path” in the middle of high tensions and mass anti-government protests in the capital, Tbilisi.
Zurabishvili, who opposes the government’s plans to introduce a “foreign agents” law, told the EU diplomats that their support would show Georgians that the country is not alone in its aspirations to move closer to the West and away from Russian influence.
The proposed law, which has sparked widespread protests, would require civil society organizations and media outlets to report foreign funding and subject them to government oversight.
Western leaders have blasted the plans, and the EU has warned that implementation would derail Georgia’s hopes of joining the bloc. Georgians overwhelmingly support EU membership, with nearly 90% backing it in polls last year.
Salome Zurabishvili (Credits: POLITICO.eu)
Zurabishvili told the EU ambassadors that she represents the voice of the public, including young people peacefully protesting on the streets and those who may not be protesting but share a European perspective. She emphasized that the government bears responsibility for the current situation, triggered by its introduction of the “foreign agents” law.
Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in recent days, with some injured and detained. The government has denied using rubber bullets, but eyewitness accounts and evidence suggest otherwise. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has defended the legislation, saying it aims to achieve “depolarization” and promote transparency and accountability.
Kobakhidze has also accused foreign-funded organizations and the US of supporting attempted revolutions in Georgia, without providing evidence. The US State Department has urged the government to withdraw the “foreign agent” bill, which it says would undermine Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Salome Zurabishvili (Credits: TASS)
Georgia is a candidate to join the European Union and NATO, and the current situation has raised concerns about its future trajectory. EU leaders have reiterated their support for Georgia’s European path, emphasizing the importance of vibrant debate and genuine dialogue. The US has also urged the government to return to the path the Georgian people want and deserve.
As the situation continues to reveal, Georgians are closely watching the government’s actions and the EU’s response, hoping to maintain their country’s European path and avoid Russian influence.
