Georgia’s Prime Minister Seeks Compromise with Western Partners on ‘Foreign Representatives’ Law

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told local media that after recent talks with Western partners, he got the impression that they are ready to discuss the “foreign representatives” bill sent by the party management to reach a compromise version.

However, he said that the compromise proposals could be made using the veto method of Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, which she promised to apply after the adoption of the law in the final third reading, which is expected to happen next week.

Barring it, the president must submit her own version of the draft law to parliament with compromise proposals already included, on which the ruling party will in Georgia ready to discuss, said Kobahidze.

At the same time, the Prime Minister of Georgia made it clear that the “Georgian Dream” will not agree to major changes, such as changing the name of the law or refusing to introduce a special status to organizations that receive at least a fifth of their funding from abroad . The party will be ready to review only some technical details in the bill. Kobahidze did not mention the specific partners of the Western countries he was talking about.

The so-called “foreign agents” bill has caused widespread protests in Georgia, which have been going on for several weeks. Critics of the bill see similarities to Russia’s notorious “Foreign Agents Law”. Some protests have seen clashes with the police, as well as attacks by unknown, athletic men on protestors and protesters. This week, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller condemned the violence faced by opponents of the bill.

“We are very concerned about the actions taken against those who are protesting against the bill and its implementation. We have information about harassment and physical attacks against civil society, opposition activists and journalists.

We condemn this and demand a full, complete, independent and timely investigation,” said Miller.

At the same time, a group of members of the US House of Representatives wrote to the Prime Minister of Georgia asking not to advance the controversial bill to the third – final reading. The invitation sent to the Prime Minister of Georgia was signed by the head of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the US House of Representatives Michael McCall, member of the committee Gregory Meek, the head of the European Affairs Subcommittee Thomas Keen, as well as 13 other members of the United Nations House . Producers. The signatories of the letter express confusion over the intention of the ruling party of Georgia to advance the so-called “foreign representatives” bill, as it contradicts the declared desire of the Georgian government to co- work with the West and especially with the United States. . “The obvious purpose of the ‘foreign representatives’ bill is to establish control over the same partners who have worked with the people of Georgia for decades to support transatlantic integration. The adoption of this law is against the will of the people of Georgia, who want to see their future in the West,” the letter says. written by members of the House of Representatives.

CONTEXT:

In Georgia, the government’s plan has caused widespread protests bill on “foreign agents”. It provides for the inclusion in the list of “foreign representatives” of non-governmental organizations and media that receive at least 20% of their funding from foreign countries.

Georgia’s governing party “Georgia Dream” defends this bill and emphasizes that the Georgian public should know which organizations receive foreign funding.

However, the bill has drawn comparisons with Russia The “foreign agents” law was passed in 2012which the Kremlin has used to suppress the opposition and to shut down independent media.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili also opposes the draft law and has vowed to veto it.

A similar bill “Georgian Dream” already tried to pass last year, but after widespread protests, the Georgian Parliament quit to consider

Western countries are warning the Georgian government that the adoption of the bill will be a major obstacle on Georgia’s path to join the European Union.