so we do who is a former minister of georgia for and as her as minister of georgia. he's in brussels anecdotally, our introducing upfront partners in brussel. they told him birth clearly that the is law about transfer. so which is not about trans paula zip transfer. and so because the gym legislation regularly, they uh a lot so that we have a lot of lots of deals regulating the george and know the income or, and jo, sensical, society see, i mean, in the tax code and other, okay, now you're transferring. so the agent, so actually, i mean, your opinion. yeah, maybe it's very clear in georgia problem and we'll publish law. there will be no choice for your opinion to ration up for georgia and, you know, the sort of the american before they were supposed to. again, this one parents wouldn't marry them to respond to that. does this now scott does as know the if it's paused when it's gotta george's membership to be your opinion. first of all we, um, i am used to hearing the light from my colleague from a position because 1st of all, and she's already brandy. does the liar b

saw of 2 companies function and that's georgia has to georgia rush. she's buying boards to both the kids. so if you create, forget the name, it is the yeah, you're a member to the section. yes, sure. the evidence was that the, the specialist read uh hire invoice said that there is not the any evidence of it. so that's why i think and another one of the opposition representative, he had a transformed old expected jake location of the main sal assigned the resolution for the face of russian interest 10 by the have the on the goes to to came out just to give the brandy and tomorrow if you don't mind because we need to keep on track with this particular discussion, we don't have very long to get to the ultimate let me bring it in to an a k. at this stage you'll the embrace. so was, is the block saying about best bell? there was a unanimous from the mission of israel and uh, just uh, uh, quotes on that. busy issue to tell you that georgia, that these lawyers adults do are each will jo provider to destroy the chance of do you have georgia to uh, to become a

um, so some parts to georgia. well, transparency internationally swan is the realization is doing any critical or for just them by pressing. therefore, yes, will be um, pretty much, uh, affected by this, but georgia has a uh, freight 5 friends um large suicide during jason single girl. as you can see, they are alternate streets for testing this because they see that the core of the slope is not only a narrow target of suggest civic society, but also the georgia european future. if you can just specifically explain how you are organization is going to be impact as well. the line. so and visions to is specifically target civic sites organizations in critical media, buying pulsing financial functions unless they are reduced during a special database as agents. uh and therefore, organizations like us might be forcefully registered on this day and registered himself and significant other financial functions will be in post on dose earnings ations, which is quite critical. i'm a big and a financial, a trend support orga

without the russian law, georgia without the russian law, georgia for the european union.lo! crowd chants: sakartvelo! sakartvelot— crowd chants: sakartvelo! sakartvelo! ., , , ., sakartvelo! now the protesters have decided to move _ sakartvelo! now the protesters have decided to move closer— sakartvelo! now the protesters have decided to move closer to _ sakartvelo! now the protesters have decided to move closer to the - sakartvelo! now the protesters have decided to move closer to the riot i decided to move closer to the riot police. decided to move closer to the riot olice. ., , , decided to move closer to the riot olice. . , , ., police. rayhan, 'ust while they do that, what police. rayhan, just while they do that, what happens _ police. rayhan, just while they do that, what happens now - police. rayhan, just while they do that, what happens now to - police. rayhan, just while they do that, what happens now to this i police. rayhan, just while they do i that, what happens now to this law? it has been passed by the parliament, it goes to the president who has said she w

georgia is obviously going to be affected by this. what impact is it going to have for you and your organization? thank you. as you might know, the slow that was adult that yesterday with a 4 towards the side has nothing to do with the transparency and it's directly targeting 3 sites orientations and critical media in georgia. so at this point, this slow can not be considered as a law against only suicide in georgia, but also the law that is targeting the west and western um, so some parts to georgia. well, transparency internationally swan is the realization is doing any critical or for just them by pressing. therefore, yes, will be um, pretty much, uh, affected by this, but georgia has a uh, freight 5 friends um large suicide serving jason single girl. a, as you can see, they are alternate streets for testing this because they see that the core of the slope, it's not only a narrow target of suggest civic society but also the georgia european future. if you can just specifically explain how you are organization is going to be impact

we are on this main street outside georgia's parliament. a - outside georgia's parliament.ot police moved in to clear the street of protesters. hundreds of riot police with water cannons behind them, they moved and cleared the main street of protesters. 0n the main street of protesters. on this side where we are standing now the protesters in their raincoats, it is raining, they are standing their ground and they believe they are standing here for georgia's european future. a short while ago the georgian parliament, dominated by the georgian dream party, past this controversial law on the transparency of foreign funding. it is seen by the opponents of the law as a russian law. they are saying it's a russian style law designed to stifle dissent, to silence the critical voices in this country. therefore, these people are standing here and they are saying our history is full of this opposition to russia, georgians are saying they have been fighting against russia for a long time and we are notjust talking about the war in 2008, we are talking and going back to 1980s and 1989 i

and what are the chances in georgia? surveys, which we often mention, show that the majority of the population of georgia is precisely pro-european, and i want to note that the authorities until now declare that they have a pro-european course, and georgia will become a member of the european in december of last year, by the way, georgia received the status, leaving behind moldova and ukraine, but the statements of western partners say the opposite, and if you look at these protests, the key role in them is played by the youth, students, of course, people of all ages come out , but the vast majority are young people, but the problem is that we have no confidence in the opposition either, it is very low, we need to broadcast this protest energy in order for it to be reflected in the elections. they emphasize tradition, appealing to these irritating topics. very often they spread exactly anti-western rhetoric. by the way, they also frighten georgia with ukrainization. that is, if for many what is happening in ukraine is cl

my priorities are to bring georgia in europe. i came from europe to georgia for that. i'm now the president elect to as been election by a society that once more you are put into georgia and georgia into the european union. they say at home is where the heart is and when it comes to salom is rubbish, really home is paris. that's where she was born and raised after her parents fled georgia in the 19th wednesdays to escape soviet communism. she had 2 passports until 2018 when she asked the french government to renounce with by, instead of concepts so that she could run in the presidential elections in georgia . well, by that point, she gave a lot of experience in the west and was ready to apply it to georgia. i guess. let's take a look. she joined the french diplomatic service when she was just 22 years old. she's on the 10th of the columbia university in new york, where she studied under people who were a counsellor to us president lyndon b. johnson who later became national security adviser to president jimmy carter. and this was the kind of rhetoric that the future ma

it will be bush who will then say, yes, georgia is a free people, but georgia has deep-sea ports, thenere is manganese there, but what are the americans interested in there, besides the so-called freedom, the resources of georgia. we keep forgetting that that in georgia, in addition to the human factor, there are also specific resources that america is taking away. so, this is the current scenario. america now has a lot of hot spots that need to be suppressed, both ukraine and taiwan. moreover, we can find a dozen conflicts that america is in one way or another overseeing. but we understand perfectly well that the scenario of the present is now beneficial for america. yes, it is fading, so i have a feeling that now the most scarce commodity for americans is time, they need to win back this time at any cost, look, elections to the european parliament will be held on june 5-9, perhaps they will not be in favor of america, but elections will also be held in the uk, in america itself there are elections on november 4, so it seems to me that they need georgia to boil and was seething, well,

there was a war in 2008 between russia and georgia and georgia occupies two of georgia�*s regions.ust standing here, maybe listening in, maybe we can talk and ask them a question? can we ask you a question? can we ask you a question? no? no, i was given a very stern look. moving back to the protesters who are here, what do you think will happen next? for now, i cannot say for sure, but i think_ for now, i cannot say for sure, but i think the — for now, i cannot say for sure, but i think the people that are here will he — i think the people that are here will be more and more for, like, tonight — will be more and more for, like, tonight i— will be more and more for, like, tonight ido— will be more and more for, like, tonight. i do not think that georgian young people will give them the possibility to make this law really— the possibility to make this law really happened. i know this has happened — really happened. i know this has happened today but we will fight to the last minute before we would finish _ the last minute before we would finish this— the last minute before we would f

georgia is moving closer to russia. and how might it affect the countries hopes of joining the european union? and we'll put those and all the questions to our guests. and just a moment that this, this report by image and kinda protest is shop done, pulse of to describe it to lisi, pointing back against a new noticed the for an agent to the open, the called fraud. besides this direction all towards a basically fall feed the same laws at parting so far for an agent bill. the bill will require organizations receiving moving 20 percent of the funding from approved to register as agents of foreign influence. they would then be monitored by the ministry of justice, can bills to share sensitive information, cool, potentially face hefty fines. critics say this negatively affect media outlets and non governmental organizations could be used to stifle free speech. clump time on the government's political opinions. it seemed to simulate the legislation in russia. it's used to press the position, but the government says the lulu s

so if you have states as well, for instance, in georgia and model of georgia, has foster contribution legislation that labels non governmental organizations as foreign agents leading to be so heavy. but that the legislation is being regarded as a copy of a similar russian law and model of all which is due to void presidential elections and a referendum on joining the e. u. later this year, russia is being accused of targeting the public space by settings this information . i mean my us secretary of state, and to me blinking is considering allowing ukraine to use american veterans on russian to attitude. so down to the point we are discussing instructions about the for, into, in spreading from ukraine to georgia and model the hello and welcome to, to the point on each of how do you sign in here in berlin and today my guess, uh, gustavo, dresses, uh, he is a senior policy fellow on military expert with the europe and council on foreign relations, e. c. f r. i stuffy out balkan bond. she is on a list for eastern europe. the gentleman council on foreign relations. d g a. be joining us by

georgia has only two paths, either it will turn into... a pathetic wretched belarus or it will become free and fighting ukraine, what do you think about this, again, these quotes come in the context of today's protests against the law on foreign agents in georgia, which has already been adopted , you know, when i hear such ideas, such words, i always remember oruel, 1984, and there is a ministry of truth, a ministry of lies, and the like, so, here everything is with exactly the opposite, for georgia, its development and, in general, its preservation in history, is reintegration in the post-soviet space with countries that are friendly to georgia in historical, civilizational and economic relations, and here i would like to recall the history of why georgia even happened, it took place. because at one time the right decision was made at the beginning of the 19th century to become part of the russian empire, and this was well reflected in poetic form by lermontov, in his poems ciri, such and such a king in such and such a year, presented russia has its own people, and god's grace descen

but georgia right from place is in you, and georgia and government must fulfill their promises. but the, we are concerned the very deeply that this new law is giving the opportunity for the georgia and government to, to regulate them over regular vents and over control the n g o is and, and that this kind of presentations and this is not good for the democracy and they have promised as well last year that they look pushing this little too, but now the action is depressed. so we do hope that the georgia government, this is reconsidered and this is yes, one of the people opposed to this law is the george and president she has promised to veto the law. you met her, her veto can easily be over ruled in parliament. so what did she tell you about her plans beyond that? yes, we had a meeting with the president with prime minister of foreign minister. also, the speaker and the n g o was have the leaders of the opposition and the georgian bridges, and it was very clear that this law truck is principally wrong. there is no place to negotiate about that. then that is she will, as she will.

mass protests continue in georgia.e eve of the draft law on the transparency of foreign influence, better known as on foreign agents, in the second reading he supported georgian parliament. the first reading took place on april 17, but in the final third, the ruling party georgian dream is going to adopt the draft law in mid-may. the review of the document is accompanied. thousands of protests with violent dispersal of the participants of the action and shooting in recent days, as well as the use of water cannons and tear gas by security forces. protesters are unhappy with the bill, which declares non-governmental and media organizations with more than 20% foreign funding as protect the interests of a foreign state. such organizations must register in a special register and fill out a financial declaration every year. the georgians who took to the streets say that the documents... parliamentarians have written off from the russian legislation, and in fact it will provide for the restriction of the activities of those o

i after a while are the uses, does nothing is rudolfo georgia last december, georgia. i received the, you, canada, she said she was a long way to achievement full for many georgians that actually prove their commitment to the european path. but the, uh, the uh, the opinion is size. now the sanctions are not tools out. that'd be can be revoking all staff candidates, say this is not a little dog either. you also read into these travel bonds in georgia and officials and some of the assumptions are expected to follow, at least that was actually probably 5 by the us, senators. so it's going to be very tough and very dark coming, few weeks for georgia and it's reputation into one. very pretty fee. can this bill be reversed? wow, the protests doesn't that don't despond saw. they say that the only way to reverse this of the retire and shifting their here is to uh, to locked and not the government on october elections. now it's, it's, it's also a very complicated question, how the elections there and to respond to elections could be conducted. when many n g zeros are probably g

we start this hour in georgia. protesters there say they'll continue with demonstrations, after parliament passed a law on tuesday barring, what the government calls "foreign influence". protests around parliament continued into the early hours of wednesday. the law would see any organisation that receives more than 20% of its funding from abroad being subject to stronger government scrutiny. the white house has called on georgia's president to veto the law, saying it is similar to measures seen in russia. rayhan demytrie is in the georgian capital tbilisi for us. georgians are waking up to the first day since their country's lawmakers in the building behind me adopted this controversial law that people fear will stifle georgia's democracy. we are expecting students and youth to come back to this street outside parliament later today. a lot of students from a number of universities here in the capital tbilisi are on strike. they are not attending their lectures. opposition mps are also boycotting parliament from to

this independence stay in georgia. the nation celebrates historic victories and it's baffled for freedom as a fight over a media ownership bill. presence the terms of the country back towards friendship and the french president, the men will misquote, lands info. then for a 3 day state visit. this trip to germany is the 1st by a friendship president in 24 years the i've been visible and woke up. we stop with breaking news from the middle east where the wing of the palestinian militant group thomas says it has find a quote large real good barrage towards these rail warning sirens sounding in the city of tel aviv is wales. he says a number of the projectiles. were intercepted and at least h. rockets came from rafa in southern gaza, where it's supposed is a currently involved in a military operation, as well as the war against how mazda is now. and it's 8 months following the after the 7 territory. i asked the w correspondent tanya claimant in jerusalem to give us more. it was indeed the 1st time and weeks or you could sa

so yeah, he has, he has committed himself to soviet guys in georgia to use the vacation, georgia. so yeah, that's, that's why he is unfortunately. well, for more of this, i'm joined now by our correspondent rosie birch out in brussels. rosie, how is the e you reacting to this development in georgia as well? terry, it took the quite a while to get a statement together. we were waiting since these little past, for an official on the record quote from brussels, but we know have one and they seem isn't quite unequivocal in their condemnation of this law. this is a statement from the use hi representative for foreign affairs and the ears t for enlargement. so expanding, look, i'm gonna read you some of the statement which is really just hold off the press. no. the, these 2 officials say that's the us clearly repeatedly stated that the spirit and content of this little are not in line with you, core norms and values. and that's, it will undermine the work of civil society. and they go on to say the choice on the way forward is in george's hands, and of the earth, the george and authorit

i was an n g o in georgia. all of our information is public, there are no transparency concerns about that. secondly, it is not only just a level of transparency which already exists. it is certain punitive measures against these groups, certain report reporting requirements low on the stigma of being labeled as an actor of the state. and it just because your n g o in georgia receives 20 percent funding save from the you or the united states doesn't mean you're carrying out the interest of a foreign adversary. and keep in mind the terminology that's being used round this law is flipping the switch between allies and enemies. and apparently, according to the georgia dream government and the rhetoric, the united states and the you are enemies of georgia. interestingly not mentioned in the law, is russia a country actually occupied in georgia in increa increasing assault occupation inch by inch every year? yeah. your opinion diplomats are saying that george's attempt to join the you is now at risk and i think some

like georgia, it's a post—soviet state like georgia.s invasion of ukraine plays out a few hundred kilometres from georgia. georgia's position on the war is being watched closely. georgia hasn't sanctioned russia, nor has it backed ukraine. but despite what the protesters say, the government denies being under russian influence. and while it defends this law, it knows it's not the end of the story. not least because there's an election in georgia later this year. depending on who wins, the law could be overturned. this debate is going to continue. and as we've been seeing, this law on foreign funding is about much more than that. for a lot of people that i'm speaking to, this isn'tjust about the technicalities of a bill that affects ngos. this is about the entire future of the country, whether it chooses a path of european integration or whether it remains in moscow's self—declared sphere of influence. more than 30 years on from the collapse of the soviet union. this choice remains with moscow and washington and brussels all paying close

um, so some parts to georgia. well, transparency internationally, swan, is there a reason stations doing any critical or for just them by pressing therefore yes, will be um, pretty much affected by this, but georgia has a, i'm afraid, 5 friends, large suicide serving jason single girl a, as you can see, they are out in the streets, protesting this because they see that the core of the slow, it's not only a narrow target of suggest sick society, but also the georgia european future. if you can just specifically explain how your organization is going to be impacted as well. the so and visions to is specifically target civic sites organizations in critical and media by enclosing a financial functions unless they are reduced during a special database. its agents uh and therefore, organizations like us might be forcefully registered on this day and registered themselves and significant loss of financial functions will be in post on those service agents which is quite critical. i'm a big and a financial, a trend support

_ here is who is wielding influence in georgia? and i think was a credible about— georgia?bloc in the european union was getting stronger, — the european union was getting stronger, was getting bigger as russia — stronger, was getting bigger as russia was getting weaker. but really _ russia was getting weaker. but really this whole episode i think was a _ really this whole episode i think was a fine — really this whole episode i think was a fine point of the fact that russia — was a fine point of the fact that russia is— was a fine point of the fact that russia is reasserting itself, the krenrtin's— russia is reasserting itself, the kremlin's influence inside georgia has not _ kremlin's influence inside georgia has not waited nearly as much is western— has not waited nearly as much is western observers thought and i think— western observers thought and i think it _ western observers thought and i think it brings geopolitics in the region— think it brings geopolitics in the region back into the question in a bil region back into the question in a big way — region back into t

yes. wider public in georgia? yes, unfortunately _ wider public in georgia? unfortunately it seems - wider public in georgia? yes, unfortunately it seems like i wider public in georgia? ye: unfortunately it seems like the law will go through. the parliament will approve the law today. but the president of georgia has mentioned that she will veto the law. so there will be a couple of safe procedural steps left when the government will still have some sort of time to discuss the law with the partners and may be georgia's partners, and maybe to make some changes. so far the rhetoric that we have been hearing from the government officials is that they are very much determined to pass this law and i fear that the consequences of this will be very dreadful for georgia. what do you mean? we only have a minute or so left but when you say dreadful consequences for georgia, what are you talking about? essen; what are you talking about? every sinale what are you talking about? every single strategic _ what are you talking about? every single strategic part _ what are yo

so georgia has two options. she was promised, well, you attack, or you go to war with the russians, yes, in this case, we will help you. nobody helped, they left it as it was, and there was immediate economic collapse, because russia is second today. attention, here is the video where these ambassadors are walking, now i definitely tell you, lansbergis is led by this scion of the nazis, he made a statement, let me be very clear, the adoption of the law on foreign agents will stop georgia’s further progress in the eec and nato, i think that georgians need to cross themselves, please don’t do this , if you want to live in peace and wealth, he emphasized, accordingly, the georgian government will be punished for this, he has already identified the culprits, i want to say again, 5 minutes for... dear tv viewers, on our broadcast we showed you the words candidate for president eduard vaitkus, who said that the situation with crimea seems to be the same way, his intelligence services are starting an investigation, you

independence for the georgia. and i've been claiming that she is a trace, or that was mentioned in the speech all the time in a self that article by jesus. she saw that to that to west sense of countries are interfering in georgia and a fast. and you can see that the independence day is a very the, the via devising here in georgia does. 5, it's hosted by the people coming out on the street to celebrate this crucial theory for the country. because the independence for georgia was of, was a very difficult achievement, very, very law. the wars to, to, to the georgia is one through. there's a lot of times to achieve this independence in the past. so to yes, russia has invited georgia on this is the day that many uh say that's a very important for that. but they also been telling me people here on the street that they gave this independence. but it's very fragile and they still need to apply for it. so are there any more purchases planned? the, the protests are expected to continue today. uh, actually is they never on

and together with georgia being between georgia _ together with georgia being between georgia and westernhe black— armenia, turkey and russia and the black sea _ armenia, turkey and russia and the black sea on the other side. sol think— black sea on the other side. sol think it's — black sea on the other side. sol think it's also important to understand the regional dynamics and the threats— understand the regional dynamics and the threats that are being posed to the threats that are being posed to the sovereignty by escalating processes where they might get out of hand _ processes where they might get out of hand. , ., ., ., , ., of hand. yes, that real worry that surrounded _ of hand. yes, that real worry that surrounded by — of hand. yes, that real worry that surrounded by all _ of hand. yes, that real worry that surrounded by all those _ surrounded by all those authoritarian regimes that all of those people in tbilisi on the streets are desperate for that not to be part of their future story. we have to leave it there but thank you so much. just a bit of movement on the streets as the

we are georgia! all: we are georgia! we are georgia! governable until they give us the voting rights that we demand! they don't have the power! we got the power! the only question is are we willing to use it? and so there may come a day when the answer to that question is no, cliff, i'm not willing to use that power! i'd rather just sit in the corner and complain about it! that day may come! but guess what? today is not that day! there may come a day when we turn our backs on the history that was made right here in this sacred space by so many people that risked so much. that day may come. but guess what? today is not that day! everybody here who believes in freedom, everybody here, if you believe that you got a role to play, i need you to put a fist out and say real loud, say, "i am"... all: i am... - "an organizer." all: an organizer! - say "i am"... all: i am... - "an organizer!" all: an organizer! - now let's leave here and get it done, y'all. i love, y'all. ♪ ♪ engineered to minimize noise. and built for adventure. which can also b

the new in the us up at georgia to draw the legislation housings of people in georgia. i have been taking to the streets for weeks to testing a bill that could touch and media freedom. crowds oppose was a score the foreign agents bill, which would require immediate non profits to register as working for a foreign power. if they get more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, the so the motivation behind the decision to reintroduce the lower despite the problem is that it would not have been is clearly rushed and style even before examining the law. it's else the that's what many here are calling it the solar russian law. that's because moscow use a similar legislation, declared press freedom and silence critics of the kremlin georgian presidents, them is what a beast really opposes the bill and don't be w. she would not let it pass as it be, will georgia's plans of joining the you. so this low is pretty sorry by everyone. and it's criticized by your 10 factors by our american partners. that say that this will be an obstacle to the european tasks of georgia when w

now your pin partners are decided just of georgia and the future in georgia. so you couldn't and visited, for example, a possible compromise, something but might satisfy the protest is on the streets as well as the ruling policy. i don't think it exists because the compromise was the withdrawal of the lower doctrine blogs and endeavoring to arrange reduced each i mean beach wine and they have adopted another half a dozen laws including one that makes georgia and i'm sure i'm sure for russian or the guards that are some functions. so all of that is extremely preoccupied and, and i think that's european partners should change the right to measure of what is happening here and see that to, to day and, and to the election on these days. tricky rule that essential to roll up towards elections where the jordan people wouldn't be able to say what they are to say. we need the attention of. busy over 10 years ago, not in president, the ukrainian government wants to play as a ties with most go, but people, that's it to the streets in process that was known as the might

georgia. dream in the attempt to preserve the power over the country and the fewest where the desk at the upcoming elections, georgia. george and jim was not to get the majority to am. however, i mean, i believe that the part to under estimated charge in population. and this is not so depressive resume, this is the come to full of people who want to preserve the democracy and people will be on the street. so i, i, i think it was really an under estimation from the, from the ruling 5 to they have been in power already for quite a long time. and their support has been declining of over the past years. and talked to him a specific does a very corrupt power to that, that trying to maintain the grief on the power and really sliding george and to look at the project and democratic regime. but that people are resilient and the content. and i think this was maybe i, it's very hard to say which was the expectation from the judge and dream. and what was the motivation behind this because they could have

the law has driven home the choice, georgia. it faces the future as part of a democratic european family or, or 3rd period rule. and to return to the kremlin or bait of w. 's. maria, the mazda jones is not for me to please see maria. the how did protest is react on the whole off to the vote. now we've seen very strong emotions yesterday or the economy square. people were literally crying one. the, the news came out that the government pushed through the billing department. now, it didn't. com. is it, is it started big shop for, for many georgians here because the, the, they realized face, they were telling me that the wake of coal was ready for them at a loss here when the government decided to introduce the bill for the 1st time. and given the director of the government and the official statements from the, from the ford in georgia in poverty, they say they knew already, di yesterday's and failed would, would come into force. so from for many of course it's just very disappointing, momentous for so many is also a doc day for ge

this bill has been opposed by western supporters in georgia. now in the continuation of today's world. to investigate this issue further , i am talking to stubb rola pabst, a researcher and expert on international issues. mrs. pabst. hello, as a first question, i would like to ask you about the origin of the recent disputes surrounding the law on the transparency of foreign influence in georgia, what details and features this law had. which aroused the sensitivity of some currents inside georgia. yes, i must tell you first i have to talk about this issue of the law of foreign interference or foreign influence. based on this law, it is required that any non-governmental organization or media that has 20% of its capital provided by a foreign entity must announce this . this is a question of financial transparency. and investing, this issue was brought up last year, but it was approved this year as well, since last year there have been pressures in this field, the reason why these things are happening is that there are concerns about the membershi

so how could this law harm georgia's membership bid? well, we have, we have seen, already heard from brussels that this bill could log actually you george's, us, us and. and we have heard some very harsh criticism from the washington politicians on the, from the supporters of the georgia, su integration. usa department issued a statement saying that georgia due to a doctor to use a 3 on the that's what many believe here, uh, the square of the they say that the government is using this a, as they say, this falls narrative of wanting to be part of the you but new in the reality they don't want to. they just have to cater to the pro european population here, which is huge in georgia. 80 percent of people here wants to be part of the year. but they say that the governor, in their eyes is increasingly pursuing ross and interest. and they also need to be the founder of the party, but they never just really amazes sports in the russia to be behind this. if to relocate live footage here of police clearing the steps of the national parliament in

this law, in addition to other movements by georgia in the past couple of years, takes georgia in a verynt direction. caitriona: does it put eu membership out of reach? >> i think that you've seen very dire warnings coming from the eu that such legislation is inconsistent with the kind of integration steps that georgia will have to take and legislation will have to pass to to encourage pluralistic voices, to not stifle them. i think that georgians understand, quite clearly, that this is going to take them away from the european union. away from the west. closer to regimes such as we see in russia and belarus. caitriona: the president of georgia has vowed to veto the bill. the parliament can override her rejection with a simple majority. what would it mean overall for democracy in the country if they override the president's veto? ian: i think it would be in many ways the final nail in the coffin of their aspirations to join the west. if they implement this law, the georgian dream government already controls the three branches of government. this will be their tool, potentially, to destro

so what's being the reaction of georgia and officials to the georgia official side that they will not back down despite the possible sanctions from the was the you paul demand has the adults to the resolution warning on functions against states in need of the country between administrative was behind the georgia and the policy us also suggested that they will introduce a sanction val. i gave the georgian officials who the us sites a is responsible for back sliding from democracy. and the doors on the officials say that we're not afraid of sanctions. we are introducing this bill because we want to start receiving our country. we don't want one to western to see or in the relationship of our country. and that's, that's why there is such as unrest in georgia because people do not agree with this . the government spends w before we have got the money into policing with the lights for us. thank you to pop. when you get a plan more than $670.00 people, the thoughts was died after a huge land slide. it hit on friday in the remote, in a province in the countries know, with mountains of mazda

hello, georgia.d something more like a normal political party will have to emerge. - i think one of the biggest shifts that we're going to see in the next decade that i predict in america is that there's going to be a demand for pluralism. we've got these systems in place that do not support pluralism, which means they're going to have to be replaced themselves. not just the people replaced, that the actual structure themselves are going to have to be radically reimagined and replaced. and what i'm happy about is that we've got a new generation of thinkers, of innovators, of creators that are actually thinking very different about everything. they're challenging all of the existing structures, and i think that there's a lot that can come out of that. i have active psoriatic arthritis. but with skyrizi to treat my skin and joints, count me in. along with clearer skin, skyrizi helps me move with less joint pain, stiffness, swelling, and fatigue. and is just 4 doses a year, after 2 starter doses. seriou

, that is, it does not even hide the fact that since georgia is not a democracy, georgia is not. civil are not representatives of civil society in the classical sense, because civil society, it receives legitimation from the people who invest their finances and their labor there, and this civil society is mainly financially dependent on external resources, and it’s a pity that no one is talking about this, according to the same statistical data, the maximum trust in this civil society was 29% among the georgian population, again behind these... disputes and aggression from both sides, and by waving the flags of either georgia or europe, there is no meaningful dialogue, but it seems to me that sooner or later both sides will be forced to do this, because they will not be able to go far with rallies, violence alone, i think they will do nothing they won’t achieve it, there are parliamentary elections in october, not only civil society and belisi are already voting there, the whole of georgia, from what i see, this georgia, it... will again make a choice in favor of the georgian city, mos

, especially since there are many russians currently on the territory of georgia, because georgia is in a very vulnerable position, it is like there in uzbekistan , in fact, there are no close allies who would be ready to stand up for it first of all with weapons, and therefore... well, unfortunately, i think that there will be processes of absorption by georgia, and georgia will have enough, and something will be quite difficult to do, even if the people are against it, since russia needs victories, they have actually already been thrown out, you have already seen the last ones already, thrown out of nagorno-karabakh, they were forced to withdraw their troops, armenia realized that she, that russia is not their ally, they also. now they are drifting to the west, they are trying to build relations with them, georgia remains, the same issue in georgia is that they are building a new naval base on the territory of abkhazia, and they do not want any protests, so that the authorities somehow counteracted this, and well, georgian, and is also afraid of possible, possible instability from

so, what are they protesting against in georgia? the opposition calls the bill on the transparency of foreign influence pro-russian. claims that he is a list. from the russian law on foreign agents, it obliges non-governmental organizations and media that receive more than 20% of funding from abroad to register as pursuing the interests of a foreign power. these organizations will have to fill out a financial declaration every year, and for refusing to do so, there will be a penalty of 25 thousand gel, which is more than $900. protesters have already reacted to the rampant beating at the event. the supreme representative of the european union josep borel condemned the violence against demonstrators in georgia, the bill itself was criticized in the european parliament. there they approved a resolution according to which negotiations on joining the eu will not begin if the draft law is adopted. instead , prime minister of georgia iraklii kobakhidze said that such a law is needed to ensure financial transparency of grant recipients. so

regarding the leadership of georgia. if the situation regarding this project, how he fights for the independence of georgia, but that's it. in a different way, and he and propaganda, power, are compared, compared to orwell, they say that everything is happening one by one, but actually by another, but the majority of people go to the streets, not only in tbilisi, but also in the regions of georgia, and protest against such a decision in order for this path to the european union. i didn't cover it, they are fighting for it, in short, this is what is happening, ms. nati, i would like to ask you, because it is interesting to watch the events in georgia now, where the political wind is blowing and where the country will move in general, because you know , now i personally have a certain feeling that georgia can go either according to the scenario of ukraine, which we have now, or according to the scenario of belarus, this is how we remember how in the 14th year... the ukrainians made their choice, and actually we now have a

and these funds are coming to georgia from outside of georgia. and recently received that the, in some cases there is a very fine line on, in some cases there is no line between non governmental organizations and political part it is and was, this is, or the little in funding is go, i mean, you already goes to political parties that's, of course, is a problem functional as income entered into western society, has to fight with a 3rd tyran is to fight with unfriendly countries and to fight with the implants to retire and influence us of democracy you're implementing the low to fide, you're putting us into west, well, 1st of all, we don't see that the is this type of thing to, 1st of all, i guess something, but this is not for that. it is kind of preventive measure for georgia. it's not surprising cause that sometimes even partners, even friends, may have different interest this low tries to ensure trust piracy, or forwarding funding without any definition of countries or division of countries around us. georgia wants to be part of the ropes and un

. ~' . ., georgia? thank you so much for havin: georgia? thank you so much for having me _ georgia?a? thank you so much for having me on your— georgia? thank you so much for having me on your programme. | georgia? thank you so much for - having me on your programme. yes, indeed, this is really an attempt by the russia made billionaire, who rules georgia currently, to derail georgia's euro—atlantic path, and to leave us only at the behest of russia which has 20% of our country occupied. ourforeign partners have made it abundantly clear including the us, i had the opportunity to meet with him and he said the adoption of this kremlin inspired russian law, which is an attempt to stifle critical voices here in georgia, would be rupture point for the georgia—us relationship and for the georgia—us relationship and for the georgia—western relationship at large. the georgia-western relationship at larae. ., ., , large. forgive me for interrupting, so therefore _ large. forgive me for interrupting, so therefore when _ large. forgive me for interrupting, so therefore when you _ large. forgive