Lawmakers in Washington have introduced two similar bills aimed at persuading the Georgian government to repeal the controversial “Russia law.”
advertisementUS lawmakers are trying to convince the Georgian government not to adopt the controversial “Russia law.”
The law requires media and NGOs to register as “foreign agents” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from overseas.
The bill was recently passed in Georgia despite massive protests.
The proposed U.S. initiative is called “Mobilizing and Strengthening Georgia’s Options for Building Accountability, Resilience and Independence” (MEGOBARI) and the Georgia People’s Act.
These bills offer visa liberalization and opportunities to deepen U.S.-Georgian relations in various areas, while imposing sanctions on those responsible for a possible backsliding on Georgia’s democracy.
Critics say the law, proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, could be used to stifle media freedoms and critical voices.
Similar laws adopted in Russia have been used to suppress opposition to the Kremlin.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced visa restrictions for Georgia government officials linked to the controversial bill.
In response, Georgia's Dream party accused the US of emotional blackmail.
In a statement, the party said the intimidation acts go against the spirit of cooperation that should be established between the two sovereign nations.
