President Salome Zourabichvili Refrains from Vetoing Two Laws Amidst Raised Questions Over Changes
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, July 27, 2023
The President of Georgia has signed amendments to two laws that pertain to two vital areas for the country - the medical sector and the protection of intellectual rights, as reported by the presidential administration.
The statement addressed the recent signing of amendments to two laws in Georgia by President Salome Zourabichvili. These amendments pertain to two vital areas for the country - the medical sector and the protection of intellectual rights. The administration acknowledged that while there are some raised questions about the amendments in both laws, the President decided not to use the veto power due to the challenges and new needs faced by these sectors.
The first part of the statement discussed the amendments to the Health Protection Law, emphasizing their goals of reducing potential risks to health and life in the sector and enhancing quality control. However, there are concerns about the frequency and strictness of sector controls, which could pose hindrances to the healthcare system's functioning. The administration stressed the importance of closely monitoring the implementation of these new mechanisms to prevent selective application of the law and to ensure the health sector's full and independent operation.
The second part of the statement focused on the changes in the copyright law. While these changes aim to align Georgian legislation with European standards and improve the protection of authors' rights to some extent, there is a risk that an organization directly subordinated to a Russian head company might gain an exclusive position in the creative and intellectual sector, as seen in other countries. According to Zourabichvili's administration, this scenario raises concerns about the potential misuse of this mechanism by Russia to strengthen its soft power and influence over the sector, which should ideally be the most free and impartial, without financial control. Additionally, the statement emphasized the responsibility of the authors of the amendments, the authorities, and their supporters to avoid these potential dangers after the law's implementation.
President Zourabichvili's administration expressed readiness to collaborate with representatives of the sector and society in both directions, demonstrating a commitment to address concerns and work towards effective implementation of the amendments.
"The amendments to the Health Protection Law aim to reduce potential risks to health and life in the sector and enhance quality control, which are both commendable and non-controversial goals. However, the frequency and strictness of sector controls might pose hindrances to its functioning.
Conducting unplanned controls without prior court permission and frequently planned controls provide administrative supervision and certain leverage to influence the sector if desired. Therefore, it will be crucial to closely monitor the implementation of these new mechanisms to prevent selective application of the law and to ensure the health sector's full and independent operation.
Regarding the changes in the copyright law, it can be argued that with their adoption, our legislation will be more aligned with European standards, as it aims to improve the protection of authors' rights to some extent.
However, these changes also carry the risk and possibility that an organization directly subordinated to the Russian head company might occupy an exclusive position in this space, similar to what has occurred in other countries.
This scenario presents certain dangers for the country: this mechanism may become a tool in the hands of Russia to strengthen its soft power and influence on the creative and intellectual sector, which, by nature, should be the most free and impartial, without financial control.
Therefore, after the law's implementation, the authors of the amendments, the authorities, and the supporters of these changes bear a great responsibility to avoid these dangers.
The President expresses readiness to collaborate with representatives of the sector and society in both directions," Administration's statement reads.
