Shota Arveladze: The Law Should not have a Mechanism to Label Someone an Agent Simply Because of a Difference in Opinion or Activity

"The law should not have a mechanism to label someone an agent simply because of a difference in opinion or activity," stated Shota Arveladze, the former player of the Georgian national team. He shared his concerns about the law of agents on social media and emphasized that questioning the European future of the country is not allowed.

Arveladze believes that the bill is designed to restrict competition, dissent, and freedom. He believes that Georgia's future can only be European and that it is important not to create problems through force at such a critical stage. Arveladze emphasized that the country is not entering Europe, but is already a part of it.

In the past, the Soviet Union labeled Sandro Akhmeteli, Mikheil Javakhishvili, and other Georgians as agents and spies, but history has since given an accurate assessment of their correct and patriotic activities. Arveladze believes that no law or government should have the power to denigrate someone as an agent simply because of a different opinion or activity. Such a mechanism would restrict competition, dissent, and freedom and lead to censorship, control, and more complicated people. No one wants to be labeled an agent, including those who became victims of repressions in the past, such as Paolo Yashvili, who was tried by the Soviet system even after his death.

Arveladze has been listening to different groups of people, including farmers, people living in the mountains, entrepreneurs, scientists, teachers, students, writers, artists, academics, and experienced diplomats, and he shares their clear position that the bill is concerning. Arveladze emphasized the importance of being honest with ourselves and our children's future. Anything that threatens their future and ours serves to walk in the wrong direction.

It is worth noting that the draft law prepared by "People's Power" is currently being discussed in the Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliament.