Georgia's PM Defends 'Foreign Agents' Bill Amid Global Criticism
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze rebuffed criticisms from the United States and the European Union regarding a proposed "foreign agents" bill on Friday, asserting that opponents were unwilling to engage in meaningful dialogue, as reported by Reuters.
The bill, currently under consideration in the Georgian parliament, aims to compel organisations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign influence agents. This requirement has drawn criticism from opponents, who argue it is authoritarian and influenced by the Kremlin.
On Friday, thousands of protesters once again took to the streets to voice their opposition. They marched towards the headquarters of the ruling party Georgian Dream before attending a Good Friday service in anticipation of Orthodox Easter on Sunday.
Both the European Union and the United States have urged Tbilisi to abandon the legislation, warning it could jeopardise Georgia's prospects for joining the European Union and the broader Euro-Atlantic community.
This confrontation is viewed as part of a broader struggle that will determine Georgia's trajectory, whether towards closer integration with Europe or a return to Moscow's influence.
Kobakhidze emphasised the necessity of the legislation for fostering transparency and accountability within the South Caucasus nation.
"I clarified to senior US diplomat Derek Chollet that erroneous statements from US State Department officials regarding the transparency bill and street protests resemble those made by the former US ambassador between 2020 and 2023," Kobakhidze stated.
He also highlighted that previous US statements had encouraged violence from foreign-funded actors and supported unsuccessful "revolutionary processes."
Furthermore, Kobakhidze expressed disappointment with a conversation with European Council President Charles Michel, stating that the EU "has been hesitant to engage in substantive discussions."
"Additionally, I emphasised that I have not yet heard any counter arguments against this legislative proposal," the official added.
Michel stressed the importance of considering Georgian citizens' call for an open, democratic, and pluralistic society, stating, "The future of Georgia belongs to the EU. Do not miss this historic opportunity."
Translation by Iurie Tataru
