Tensions flared on X this week after German MEP Michael Gahler called leaders of Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party “Moscow creatures”, criticising recent legislation he says threatens the country’s democratic path.
The remark was sparked by a post from former president Salome Zurabishvili, who accused the ruling party of imposing repressive laws on civil society and the media.
Shalva Papuashvili, chairman of the Georgian Dream-led parliament, responded sharply, saying the MEP’s language tarnished Germany’s image and demanding that Gahler apologise or delete the post. The exchange reflects rising international scrutiny of Georgia’s proposed legal restrictions on foreign funding.
The laws in question aim to regulate foreign grants and funding for NGOs, media outlets and politically related activities. Under the proposals, receiving foreign funds without prior government approval could result in fines, community service or prison sentences of up to six years. Critics argue the laws are overly broad, potentially criminalising routine funding for journalism, research or civil society work.
The Georgian Dream party defends the measures as a safeguard of sovereignty, arguing that foreign actors should not influence internal politics or attempt to fund political activities indirectly. Government officials also stress the importance of transparency in NGO operations and foreign grants.
Human rights and press freedom advocates warn that the laws risk curtailing media independence and civil society activity - a pattern observers say has intensified in Georgia over the past two years with the adoption of the Foreign Agents Law and amendments to broadcasting and grant regulations. International bodies, including the Council of Europe, have emphasised that legal aid, media and civil society institutions should maintain operational independence and protection from political interference.
As the amendments move toward parliamentary approval, the dispute between Georgian Dream officials and European lawmakers underscores the tension between national sovereignty and democratic freedoms. Social media has amplified the debate, with highly charged posts reflecting both political frustrations and international concern.
Central Asia’s population could reach 96 million by 2040, according to the head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), highlighting both the region...
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has written to British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to say he would back any UK government plan to remove An...
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection agency will halt the collection of tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act on Tue...
The U.S. ambassador to Portugal has urged Lisbon to replace its ageing F-16 fighter jets with Lockheed Martin’s F-35, saying the stealth aircraft wo...
A British national was among at least 19 people killed when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway into the Trishuli river in Nepal before daw...
Central Asia’s population could reach 96 million by 2040, according to the head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), highlighting both the region’s economic potential and the growing strain on infrastructure, trade routes and long-term development models.
A British national was among at least 19 people killed when a passenger bus plunged off a mountain highway into the Trishuli river in Nepal before dawn on Monday (23 February), authorities said. A New Zealander and a Chinese national were among those injured.
Against a backdrop of mounting environmental pressure across Central Asia, the Kazakh Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources has announced that the Regional Ecological Summit (RES) 2026 will take place from 22–24 April in Astana.
Iran has signed a secret €500 million arms deal with Russia to rebuild air defences, weakened during last year’s war with Israel, the Financial Times has reported. The agreement, signed in December in Moscow, will see Russia deliver 500 Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years.
A seven-month-old Japanese macaque has drawn international attention after forming an unusual bond with a stuffed orangutan toy after being rejected by its mother.
Divers have recovered the bodies of seven Chinese tourists and a Russian driver after their minibus broke through the ice of on Lake Baikal in Russia, authorities said.
President Donald Trump said on Saturday (21 February) that he will raise temporary tariffs on nearly all U.S. imports from 10% to 15%, the maximum allowed under the law, after the Supreme Court struck down his previous tariff program.
Pakistan said it carried out cross-border strikes on militant targets inside Afghanistan after blaming a series of recent suicide bombings, including attacks during the holy month of Ramadan, on fighters it said were operating from Afghan territory.
Iran announced on Saturday (21 February) that it has designated the naval and air forces of European Union member states as “terrorist entities” in a reciprocal move after the EU blacklisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Central Asia’s population could reach 96 million by 2040, according to the head of the Eurasian Development Bank (EDB), highlighting both the region’s economic potential and the growing strain on infrastructure, trade routes and long-term development models.
Iran has signed a secret €500 million arms deal with Russia to rebuild air defences, weakened during last year’s war with Israel, the Financial Times has reported. The agreement, signed in December in Moscow, will see Russia deliver 500 Verba launch units and 2,500 9M336 missiles over three years.
Syria has secured a $50 million financing package from the World Bank to support transport infrastructure projects as the country advances its economic recovery efforts, Syrian media reported on Sunday.
The United States and Iran will hold a new round of nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Thursday as part of renewed diplomatic efforts to reach a potential agreement, Oman’s Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi announced on Sunday.
Islamic State claimed two attacks on Syrian army personnel on Saturday (22 February), saying they marked the start of a new phase of operations against the country’s leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment