Georgian parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili has signed into law a “family values” bill that restricts LGBT rights just weeks before a crucial parliamentary election. The ruling Georgian Dream party pushed for the bill, which bans gender transitions and could outlaw pride marches and displays of the LGBT rainbow flag, citing the need to protect the Orthodox Christian church. President Salome Zourabichvili opposed the bill but was overruled by parliament.
Critics, including Georgian LGBT activists and some Western countries, see the law as a move towards authoritarianism and closer alignment with Russia. Georgian Dream, led by the country’s wealthiest individual, also passed a law requiring organizations receiving foreign funding to register as foreign agents, a move seen as stifling dissent.
Georgian Dream, despite facing opposition and criticism, remains the most popular party in the country. The party advocates for stable relations with Russia, citing concerns about potential conflict with Moscow given the history of separatist movements and past wars.
The upcoming election on October 26 will determine whether Georgian Dream secures a fourth term in power. The party’s actions on LGBT rights and foreign funding reflect a broader trend towards conservative policies and a shift away from the country’s Western-leaning stance since the dissolution of the Soviet Union.
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