The United States will implement visa restrictions and review ties with Georgia over a controversial "foreign agents bill" that has ignited widespread protests. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the visa restrictions would apply to Georgian politicians and officials behind the bill, criticizing the legislation for stifling freedoms of association and expression. Blinken emphasized the US's longstanding support for Georgia's democracy and warned that undermining democratic processes or institutions could render individuals ineligible for US visas.
The ruling Georgian Dream party, which passed the bill requiring NGOs and media with over 20% foreign funding to register as "foreign agents," accused the US of "visa blackmail" and encroaching on Georgia's sovereignty. Critics likened the law to Russian measures used to suppress dissent, while supporters, including Georgian PM Irakli Kobakhidze, argued it promotes transparency and safeguards sovereignty. The legislation has sparked mass protests in Tbilisi, met with tear gas, water cannons, and arrests by riot police.
Blinken urged Georgia to reconsider the law, warning it could harm its EU and NATO aspirations. EU chief Ursula von der Leyen also cautioned that the legislation poses a serious obstacle to Georgia's European integration. Amid the tensions, Georgian PM Kobakhidze claimed an EU commissioner had hinted at an assassination threat over the law, a statement the EU's Oliver Varhelyi later clarified was taken out of context. Varhelyi expressed regret and emphasized the need to avoid further polarizing the situation.
The Russian Foreign Ministry accused the US of blackmailing Georgia, with spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemning US intervention in sovereign affairs. Georgia's parliament is set to launch proceedings to override a presidential veto on the controversial law next week.
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23 май 2024
