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