Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili sees future of Europe at stake with divisive law | DW News

Georgia’s President Salome Zourabichvili sees future of Europe at stake with divisive law | DW News

to Georgia next where thousands of people have been taking to the streets for weeks protesting a bill that could threaten media freedom and could even derail Georgia’s hopes of joining the European Union protesters oppose what many have dubbed a Russian law that’s because Moscow uses similar legislation to curb Independent News organizations and groups critical of the Kremlin the European Union and the United States have urged Georgia to drop the legislation but the country’s prime minister has rejected us criticism saying it is meddling its meddling has fueled the sometimes violent protests and I’m very pleased to welcome the president of Georgia Sal Shalom zish who finds herself increasingly at odds with the governing party welcome to DW Madame President thank you so much for your time today with so many people in Georgia opposed to this bill do you think it will become law or do you see something happening to stop it I mean you yourself have vowed to veto the law I believe yes uh I will veto this law as I vetoed uh all the laws that have been taken by the government in the recent period and that are going against the letter and the Spirit uh of the recommendations that were offered by the European Union to open to pave the way for the opening of negotiations but it’s now very clear that this law which is a Russian law by Essence because it’s the way Russia has managed to uh really repress the civil society that the government here is trying trying to present the partners of Georgia as agents of Revolution uh as those are trying to overthrow the government uh and keeping very silent uh on Russia as if it was now today our new friend so that is becoming increasingly clear that it’s not only the Russian law that is the problem the problem is a Russian uh government or government that is prone to making concessions to Russia and to turn the orientation of this country towards Russia and that is what the vast majority of this country is protesting it’s not only the law is a symbol but the reality is that the country is saying we want Europe we want our European future which is close at hand we’re going to defend it as well as our independence we’re not going to give in they’re also saying to our partners uh that here is at stake not only the future of Georgia but in way the future of Europe and of its strengths Madam president can I ask you the government tried to pass similar legislation last year help us understand why the ruling Georgian tream party wants this law so much I don’t know what is clear is that they have lied to us to the Georgian population and they have lied to our partners they have said that they were withdra the law and that they would not represent it now they are lying on all of that they have disappointed and deceived their own population why they’re doing it it doesn’t make any sense uh in political terms it’s no longer what could have been said earlier that they’re trying to save their power uh today doesn’t make any sense but to please Moscow and the one Center we cannot accept that Georgia became a candidate to the European Union that sees very close at hand the negotiations of adhesion that sees that the caucas is no longer this Garden that was preserved for Russia that’s what displeases Moscow and displeases those that are now clearly since the speech of Mr Ian appearing as serving Moscow you’ve said yourself that the vast majority of Georgians want their country to move closer to the west and to join the EU how will people react how angry will people be if this bill comes ever closer to passing what’s going to happen well they’re very angry but they’re at the same time very reasonable you see this youth that is protesting completely peacefully and will continue to do so because they are very aware of the risks that exist in a country that has its territories 20% occupied by Russia but at the same time they will not give in uh either Independence or their European future this country has been fighting for 26th Century for its independence and that’s how this country has survived until now this country has always shared the values that are now called European uh and will defend that and this country has always fought for its freedom and I want to uh use this opportunity uh to thank the Declarations that have been the statements that have been made on the German side uh and especially the U president president of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the bundist and many others and we know that Germany as all our European partners are on the side of Georgia and of European Georgia so you couldn’t envisage for example a possible compromise something that might satisfy the protesters on the streets as well as the ruling party I don’t think it exists because the compromise was the withdrawal of the law it happened once and again they have re reintroduced it and meanwhile they have adopted another half a dozen laws including one that makes Georgia an offshore offshore for Russian oligarchs that are sanctioned so all of that is extremely preoccupying and I think that our European Partners should take the right measure of what is happening here and see that today and until the election on this very tricky Road very sensitive road towards elections where the Georgian people will be able to say what they have to say fa of Europe we need attention and support our European partn 10 years ago Madame President the Ukrainian government wanted closer ties with Moscow but people there took to the streets in protest that was known as the maidan revolution is this a similar moment for your country well I don’t know if it’s similar we have gone already through everything that Ukraine has gone through we have gone through maidans we’ve gone through Wars so we are yes there is a parallelism between all what has happening in Ukraine over the past decades and recently and Georgia but with all our individual pass and our pass this time leads towards these elections in October which will be a type of referendum do we want Europe or they want Russia and I’m confident of what is the answer of Georgia yeah salom zish the president of Georgia many thanks for your time thank you for speaking to DW thank you

Thousands of people in Georgia have been taking to the streets for weeks, protesting a bill that could threaten media freedom – and even derail the country’s hopes of joining the European Union. Protesters oppose what many have dubbed a “Russian law” – as Moscow uses similar legislation to curb independent news organisations and groups critical of the Kremlin. The European Union and the United States have urged Georgia to drop the legislation. But the country’s prime minister has rejected US criticism, saying its meddling has fueled the sometimes-violent protests. DW spoke to Salome Zourabichvili, the President of Georgia, who says the problem is not just the Russian law itself, but the pro-Russian stance of Georgia’s current government.

00:00 Intro & Interview Salome Zourabichvili, Georgian President

#georgia #protests #tbilisi

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