Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Friday that criticism from the United States and the European Union over the draft law on “foreign agents” is inappropriate, saying opponents of the bill are unwilling to engage in a meaningful discussion.
The EU and US have presently urged Tbilisi to reject the law or it risks undermining its chances of European Union membership and a broader Euro-Atlantic future. The controversy is regarded as an essential stage that could determine whether Georgia moves closer to Brussels or Moscow.
The bill would require organisations that receive more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad to register as agents of foreign influence. Opponents of the law have criticised parliament and described it as a Kremlin-inspired demand. Parliament approved the bill in its first reading earlier this month. It must pass two more readings before becoming law.
Hence, the Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stressed on X that the law was necessary to ensure transparency and accountability in the South Caucasus country:
“I explained to Mr Chollet that false statements made by the officials of the U.S. State Department about the transparency bill and street rallies remind us of similar false statements made by the former U.S. Ambassador in 2020-2023, which served to facilitate violence from foreign-funded actors and to the support of revolutionary processes back then.”
Earlier, US State Department Adviser Derek Chollet said he had spoken to the Georgian Prime Minister about the draft law On Transparency of Foreign Influence. The White House expressed concerns that the bill could stifle dissent and freedom of speech.
In particular, Kobakhidze emphasised that previous US statements had encouraged violence by what he called foreign-funded actors and supported “revolutionary processes” that he said had failed. According to him, if these attempts had succeeded, “the second front line would have been opened in Georgia.” He also stated that from now on special efforts are required to resume relations between the US and Georgia, which is “impossible without a fair and honest approach.”
In addition, earlier there was a telephone conversation between the President of the European Council Charles Michel and the Prime Minister of Georgia. Kobakhidze voiced disappointment about the conversation, saying that the EU had “been reluctant to engage in substantive discussions” and so far Georgia has not yet heard “any counterarguments against this proposed legislation.”
The President of the European Council said on X: “In a phone call with Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze discussed the recent developments in Georgia and reiterated EU’s full support to all Georgians who put European future of their country first. Georgian citizens’ call for an open democratic and pluralistic society must be heeded. Vibrant debate is a cornerstone and genuine dialogue is now needed. Georgia’s future belongs with the EU. Don’t miss this historic chance.”
On Friday, several thousand protesters took to the streets again to express their dissent, marching to the headquarters of the ruling Georgian Dream party and then attending a Good Friday service before Orthodox Easter Sunday. Prior to this, the demonstration took place on Tuesday. Bidzina Ivanishvili, the billionaire founder of the Georgian Dream party and a former prime minister, earlier has reiterated his intention to fight for the full restoration of the sovereignty of Georgia.
