Georgia

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has vowed to veto the controversial law on "foreign agents," saying it does not comply with European values and hinders Georgia's European integration aspirations, amid Western criticism that the law undermines democracy.

Two Turkish citizens are sentenced to 11 years in prison for smuggling over 190 kg of heroin from Iran to Ukraine and organizing a large-scale drug trafficking scheme.

President Zelenskyy announced that the presidents of Georgia, Malawi, and the prime minister of Liechtenstein have agreed to participate in a peace summit aimed at restoring international law and establishing a just peace for Ukraine.

The adoption of Georgia's controversial law on "foreign agents" negatively affects its progress towards EU accession, and the authorities should withdraw the law and implement the necessary reforms outlined in the EU's 9 steps.

NATO criticized Georgia's adoption of a controversial law on "foreign agents" as a step away from European and Euro-Atlantic integration.

The US threatens to fundamentally revise bilateral relations with Georgia if the controversial law on foreign agents goes into effect despite protests and a presidential veto.

The founder of Georgia's ruling party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, refused to meet with U. S. Assistant Secretary of State James O'Brien because his funds were frozen by a Swiss bank on suspicion of Russian origin.

Georgia's prime minister has announced that the country's parliament will pass a controversial law on "foreign agents" tomorrow despite protests, escalating tensions over the legislation that has been criticized as repressive.

12 EU foreign ministers demand a report from Borrell on how Georgia's draft law on "foreign agents" will affect its EU membership application amid criticism of the document.

Clashes between police and protesters outside the parliament building in Tbilisi, Georgia, erupted after the Interior Ministry threatened to use force to clear the area around the legislature.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili has once again called on the ruling Georgian Dream party to withdraw the law on "foreign agents. " The head of state also voiced an alternative proposal: to postpone the law's entry into force until November 1, after the country holds parliamentary elections.

Thousands of opponents of the law on "foreign agents" in Georgia will spend the night of May 12-13 outside the parliament building ahead of a vote on the controversial bill scheduled for May 14.

Students at Tbilisi State University have been on strike, boycotting classes since May 13 to protest the draft law on "foreign agents" and demand its withdrawal.

Today in Tbilisi, Georgia, a large-scale pro-European protest demanding the withdrawal of the controversial law on "foreign agents" will take place, with participants marching to European Square.

Jim O'Brien, head of the US State Department's Office of Sanctions Coordination, will visit Georgia in the coming days to meet with the opposition amid ongoing protests against the controversial law on foreign influence transparency.

Georgia's foreign minister criticized the resignation of the country's ambassador to France over the controversial law on "foreign agents," calling it an insult to Georgia and its diplomats.

Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili refused to meet with the EU delegation, which arrived amid protests against the controversial law on "foreign agents," saying their visit could encourage radical opposition actions.

At least four opposition activists and MPs who opposed the law on "foreign agents" were attacked in Tbilisi, but the Georgian government suggested that the protesters themselves were behind the attacks.

The second semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest 2024 took place on May 9 in Malmö, where 10 more countries - Latvia, Austria, the Netherlands, Norway, Israel, Greece, Estonia, Switzerland, Georgia and Armenia - advanced to the grand final on May 11, joining the 10 countries that had qualified from the first semi-final.

Violent attacks and intimidation tactics were used against opposition activists and NGOs protesting Georgia's controversial law on "foreign agents.

Georgia's Ambassador to France, Gocha Javakhishvili, resigned over a controversial law on foreign agents that has strained Georgia's relations with its European partners and made his mission extremely difficult.

The EU is still discussing possible measures against Tbilisi for adopting the law on "foreign agents. " The European Union is currently considering canceling the visa-free regime with Georgia if the country adopts this controversial law.

Portugal's Foreign Minister said that Ukraine's accession to the EU is of fundamental importance to Portugal because of potential economic opportunities, solving the food problem, and because Ukraine is a pro-Atlantic ally.

EU ambassadors approve €30 million in non-lethal military aid to Georgia from the European Peace Fund.

EU ambassadors expressed concern over Georgia's law on "foreign agents" and its potential impact on the country's European integration process.

The European Court of Human Rights has ordered Georgia to pay €153,600 in compensation to the victims of the violent dispersal of the Gavrilov Night rally in Tbilisi in 2019.

Michael Roth, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the German Bundestag, will visit Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, on May 13-15 to meet with the government, parliament, opposition and civil society activists, expressing support for Georgia's European aspirations and democratic values.

According to members of the European Parliament, Georgia's status as an EU candidate is under threat because of the ruling party's ties to the Kremlin and the suppression of protests.

Hakeem Jeffries, the Democratic leader in the U. S. House of Representatives, warned that America would "have to intervene" with its military if Ukraine "falls" in a war with Russia, as Vladimir Putin seeks to recreate the Soviet Union and threatens NATO allies.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine recommends that Ukrainian citizens avoid visiting crowded places and participating in protests in Tbilisi due to the ongoing mass demonstrations in the city.