This Law is an Attack on Our Partnership: US Embassy in Georgia on Controversial Bill

In response to reports that the Georgian Parliament is discussing a replica of the Russian "foreign agents" bill, which would undermine the activities of various segments of Georgian civil society, Helsinki Commission Chairman Joe Wilson, Co-Chairman Ben Cardin, and members Steve John and Roger Wicker issued a joint statement, as conveyed by the US Embassy in Georgia's Facebook page.

The statement notes that since regaining independence, the Georgian people have clearly and consistently chosen to be part of the democratic Euro-Atlantic community. However, they argue that if the anti-democratic, Russian-style foreign agents law is enacted, it will negate the Georgian people's aspiration to join the European Union and NATO and will underscore the rapid decline of Georgian democracy.

"This will also demonstrate the current government's growing intimacy with Russia, the same country that has occupied 20 percent of Georgia's territory, abducts its citizens, disregards its sovereignty, and is waging a genocidal war against Ukraine. This law, along with the ongoing democratic backslide, including the imprisonment of political opponents, is an attack on our strategic partnership and the Western choices of the Georgian people. Since 1991, the United States has been a strong and steady friend of the Georgian people. Regardless of the power’s position, this will not change," the statement reads.

They urge the Georgian government to reject the proposed bill and reaffirm its commitment to democracy. It should be noted that on March 6, the Legal Affairs Committee of the Georgian Parliament defended the "foreign agents" bills in the first reading. After the Foreign Relations Committee, the Legal Affairs Committee is the second and leading committee that supports these bills.

The "foreign agents" package includes two bills: "On Foreign Influence" and "On Registration of Foreign Agents." These controversial bills were brought to Parliament by the "People's Power" movement, which formed after leaving the ranks of the "Georgian Dream" party and is aligned against the West.

The package stipulates that all non-business legal entities and media outlets whose funding from foreign forces exceeds 20 percent will be labeled as "foreign agents." The authors consider it "American," while opponents label it as "Russian." It is worth emphasizing that this package has been criticized by the US Embassy in Georgia, the EU, UN representatives, NATO, other international organizations, and European Parliament members.