Overview

• President Salome Zourabichvili refused to sign a bill that would severely restrict LGBTQ+ rights in Georgia, returning it to the parliament.
• The bill, introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party, includes bans on same-sex marriages, adoptions by same-sex couples, and gender-affirming care.
• The legislation mirrors similar laws in Russia and has been condemned by human rights groups for marginalizing the LGBTQ+ community.
• The president's refusal to sign the bill follows her earlier veto of a controversial 'foreign influence' law, which sparked mass protests and international criticism.
• The decision comes as Georgia prepares for parliamentary elections, with the ruling party accused of aligning the country more closely with Russia at the expense of its European aspirations.