German FM: Tens of thousands of Georgians show heart of Europe doesn’t beat solely between Warsaw and Lisbon

German Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, on Monday highlighted the recent demonstrations in Georgia against the controversial foreign transparency bill, where she said tens of thousands had taken to the streets to advocate for their country’s European future. 

She said the protests have persisted for weeks, drawing a diverse crowd ranging from students to grandparents with their grandchildren and noted their primary grievance was against a proposed government law allegedly aimed at restricting the activities of NGOs and civil society organizations, many of which receive international funding.

Baerbock underscored the importance of upholding the rule of law, democratic principles, and media freedom as prerequisites for EU accession. She commended the “vibrant and outspoken” civil society in Georgia.

“Tens of thousands of Georgians demonstrate that the heart of Europe doesn’t beat solely between Warsaw and Lisbon. This vibrant, democratic, and critically engaged civil society has taken to the streets of Tbilisi”, said the German official. 

Emphasizing Georgia’s candidacy for EU membership as a historic opportunity, she called upon the government to heed the voices of its citizens”.