Georgia defies EU and backs law targeting 'foreign agents' - POLITICO Europe

“We kindly ask you to undertake this as a matter of priority and to make sure that this public assessment appears before the final vote at the Georgian parliament,” said the letter, which was signed by the foreign affairs ministers of Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Poland and Sweden.

However, no such statement was made, with POLITICO’s Brussels Playbook reporting that Hungary, aided by Slovakia, obstructed an agreement.

Meanwhile, in the European Parliament, MEPs representing the EPP, S&D, Greens and Renew groupings have written to Borrell urging him to prepare “targeted” sanctions against Georgian Dream politicians who pushed the foreign agents law — including Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze — as well as the MPs who voted for it. 

Georgians have been demonstrating outside the parliament in Tbilisi against the so-called Russian law for weeks. | Gabriel Gavin/POLITICO

Speaking on the sidelines of the Copenhagen Democracy Summit, European Council President Charles Michel said that he had called Kobakhidze in recent days to urge him to “stick to the rule-of-law principles, to democratic principles, and also to meet the expectations of the population.” However, he added, “I’m not in favor of sanctions. I think at this stage the priority should be the dialogue, political dialogue.”

Tens of thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest against the bill, which campaigners have branded the “Russian law” given its similarity to rules used by Moscow to shutter civil society groups and suppress critics. Riot police used tear gas, shields and batons to disperse the crowds who gathered outside parliament, arresting at least 20 people in advance of the vote.

Dato Parulava contributed reporting.

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2024-05-14 12:06:20Z
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