Speaker of Georgian parliament to sign 'foreign agents law' if president refuses

By Elena Teslova

MOSCOW (AA) - The head of Georgian parliament on Wednesday said he will sign the bill on Transparency of Foreign Influence himself if the president refuses to do so, as stipulated by the country's legislation.

Speaking at a news conference in Tbilisi, live-streamed on the parliament's website, Shalva Papuashvili said the lawmakers have sent the bill to the presidential administration for the president’s signature.

"We are now waiting for the signature. It is highly likely that she (President Salome Zourabichvili) will not sign it. Accordingly, I will sign this law," he said.

Georgia’s parliament on Tuesday overrode President Salome Zourabichvili’s veto of the “foreign influence” bill, which was passed earlier this month. Zourabichvili had vetoed the bill on May 18.

The bill requires organizations, including media outlets, which receive more than 20% of their funding from overseas, to register with the state and publish annual financial reports.

According to the procedure, after overriding the veto, the law must be sent back to the president for signature within three days. If the president does not sign it in five days, the speaker of the parliament will sign and publish the law, after which it will come into force.