Asked to explain whom Ivanishvili was referring to, Lashkhi volunteered that “freemasons” were behind schemes across the world. “We were seeing they do have the influence on global politics,” she insisted, but declined to name any other groups supposedly responsible.

“Today, when me, myself, I am involved in foreign relations and sometimes when I have the partnership and then they say that, well, you are OK and you are doing well but then there is an additional voice,” she went on.

Asked on a recent visit to the South Caucasus country for his thoughts on the idea of a “global war party” — a notion that echoes pro-Russian propaganda — Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielus Landsbergis burst out laughing. However, “it’s not a joke because it’s a serious thing and it’s the Kremlin’s narrative,” he said.

“The only war party is in Moscow,” Landsbergis added. “This is the party that attacked Georgia in 2008; this is the party that attacked Ukraine in 2014, and is currently waging a war against Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It is our obligation to those who value freedom to fight this party and win this war,” he said.

Tens of thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets in recent weeks to oppose Georgian Dream’s proposals to require NGOs, campaign groups and media outlets that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as “organizations serving the interests of a foreign power.” Brussels has said the move is “incompatible with European values,” warning it would bar Georgia’s path to joining as a full member just six months after it was granted candidate status.

Police have used tear gas, riot shields and batons against protesters, and swooped in to arrest organizers and opposition politicians. At the same time, the government is pushing forward with a planned law to outlaw “LGBT propaganda,” which critics say would ban everything from film screenings to annual Pride events. The move would mirror rules used by Russia to persecute minority groups.

On Saturday, the chair of the U.S. Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe, South Carolina Republican Congressman Joe Wilson, confirmed he would introduce legislation in Washington that would open the door to sanctioning leading Georgian Dream politicians.

• A Georgia college student was shot dead by an ‘armed intruder’ on Saturday
• The incident occurred at 4pm local time triggering a shelter-in-place on campus 
• The suspect has now been arrested and is no longer considered a threat

By Alice Wright For Dailymail.Com

Published: 03:34 BST, 19 May 2024 | Updated: 04:11 BST, 19 May 2024

President of Georgia Salome Zourabichvili on Friday vetoed a controversial “foreign agents” law that has been decried as “Russian-style” legislation and has sparked massive protests in the country.

Zourabichvili took to her Twitter account to announce the veto, saying, “Today, I vetoed the Russian law. This law, in its essence and spirit, is fundamentally Russian, contradicting our constitution and all European standards. It thus represents an obstacle to our European path.” Zourabichvili said the veto was legally sound because the law was not “subject to any changes or improvements.” 

Georgia’s parliament adopted the controversial law on May 14th, which would have designated civil society organizations that receive funding from abroad as “foreign agents.” The law, which is known as the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, would require any organization in Georgia that receives more than 20% of its income from foreign sources to register as a foreign agent.

The adoption by parliament sparked widespread protests as critics viewed the bill as directly inspired by Russia and said the government was trying to isolate Georgia from the rest of the world. The backlash has been so severe that several Georgian officials have stepped down in protest, most notably Gotcha Javakhishvili, the current ambassador to France.

The legislative process has spurred local protests and provoked the ire of international advocacy groups, which argue the law stifles civil society and fundamental freedoms. Marie Struthers, Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, stated the law “contravenes Georgia’s international obligations on the rights to freedom of expression and association and strikes at the heart of civil society’s ability to operate freely and effectively.”