Ruling party MP: Georgia needs “peaceful development, European integration”, not war

Irakli Zarkua, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday highlighted the need for “peaceful development” and European integration for the country.

Zarkua was speaking after public protests last week led to the ruling Georgian Dream party shelving a proposed bill that involved registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. 

Echoing comments by ruling party politicians in the wake of the protests, the MP claimed a connection between the demonstrations and a part of the domestic opposition he said was aiming to effect a “coup” and “open a second front” of the war in Ukraine in Georgia.

He also stressed Georgia’s European future was “not in danger”, and said the ruling party had failed to explain “to the citizens and young people in advance what we are dealing with”, in reference to reasons for the controversial proposal.

Our country is so important - we have such a great country, including its geographical location - that from south, north, west, east, all countries have interest in this country”, Zarkua said.

The ruling party on Thursday announced it was “unconditionally” withdrawing the bill, which had been proposed by the People's Power movement and met with a backlash by domestic opposition, civil sector and diplomatic representations in the country, as well as public rallies outside the legislative body.