On May 14, alongside widespread protests, Georgia's Parliament passed the controversial "Russian law" in its third reading. This step undermines the living space of civil society and exacerbates political polarization within the nation.
The draft law received approval from 84 MPs, with 30 members of the parliamentary opposition voting against it.
The parliamentary majority's approval of the draft law came after extensive protests in the country and warnings from Georgia's foreign partners. These partners urged the governing team not to proceed with the decision, emphasizing its contradiction to the wishes of the Georgian people and its hindrance to Georgia's European integration. On May 13, while visiting Georgia, the chairman of the foreign affairs committee of the German Bundestag, Mikhail Roth, expressed his concerns about the country's European integration. He remarked that he "could not see a chance for a bright future for Georgia if the government did not withdraw this law". Prior to that, on May 12, over 120 Georgian civil society organizations reiterated their call for the withdrawal of the draft law through a collective statement.
It is significant that the period from the adoption of the draft law in the second reading until today is characterized by the arrests of the participants of protest actions, repeated facts of physical punishment, verbal abuse and threats. It's noteworthy to mention the political assaults directed at individuals involved in protests against the draft law, as well as the menacing and offensive anonymous calls made to citizens from phone numbers registered both in Georgia and abroad. Additionally, there have been instances of leaving graffiti and posters containing hate speech at the premises of civil society organizations, media outlets, or individuals' residences.
As per the procedure, the Georgian Parliament has up to 10 days to forward the approved law to the President of Georgia for signature. Subsequently, the President has a 2-week window after receiving the law to either sign it or exercise the right of veto, sending the law back to Parliament with detailed explanations. The law returned with reasoned comments is then deliberated upon in a plenary session of the Parliament and passed in a single reading.
It should be noted that the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, announced on May 10, a few days before the adoption of the law, that he had informed foreign partners that "it was possible to reconcile positions within the veto procedures." Later, in a statement made on May 12, he specified that he had communicated with representatives of the European Union and the OSCE on this issue. In response, on May 12, the President of Georgia, Salome Zurabishvili, stated that she "will represent a veto, but will not engage in any manipulation, because this will only aim to create confusion among the people." According to her own statement, if the ruling team wanted to change the law, it should have done it itself.
The final approval of the law and its related procedures present considerable dangers, threatening to disrupt the workings of civil society and its members. This could lead to heightened political polarization, increased hostile rhetoric, and discredited campaigns. It may also erode opportunities for collaboration between the state and civil society organizations, making it harder for them to advocate and serve effectively. Additionally, this development might delay the country's integration into the European Union.
