MEP Viola von Cramon has called upon the European Union to halt funding to the Georgian Government and impose sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili, founder and honorary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party. 

Her plea follows the dispersal of a rally in Tbilisi on Tuesday, with 63 demonstrators arrested, and precedes the visit of Gert Jan Koopman, Director General of the European Commission for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations.

In a tweet on Wednesday, von Cramon underscored the need for the EU to refrain from initiating new projects with the Georgian government at this juncture. Instead, she advocated for suspending funds at the executive level and swiftly implementing sanctions against Ivanishvili. 

This sentiment aligns with voices from the Georgian opposition and civil sector, who characterize Ivanishvili as a "shadow ruler with pro-Russian sentiments."

During his visit on May 1-2, Koopman is slated to engage in discussions concerning EU-Georgia cooperation, particularly regarding the nine steps necessary to commence accession talks with Tbilisi, following its attainment of candidate status last year. His itinerary includes meetings with government officials, parliamentary representatives, civil society members, and the inauguration of several EU-funded projects. These initiatives aim to modernize Georgia's irrigation network, promote investment in renewable energy, and facilitate loans in national currency for micro, small, and medium enterprises.

Opposition parties and civil society groups have condemned a proposed foreign transparency bill as pro-Russian and as an attempt by the ruling party to suppress organizations advocating for democracy and EU integration. 

Both the EU and the United States have cautioned Georgian authorities that passing this legislation could impede the country's progress toward EU accession. The bill mandates that NGOs register and submit financial declarations annually, with penalties of 25,000 GEL for non-compliance.

Western-funded NGOs and media outlets assert that their financial transparency and compliance are already evident, suggesting that the government's true aim is to restrict organizations addressing human rights and corruption. Similar legislation previously sparked widespread protests in March 2023, prompting its withdrawal. 

However, the Georgian Dream party reintroduced the bill for parliamentary consideration on April 3, 2024, replacing the term "foreign agent" with "organization representing foreign interests."