Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze met with Johan Forsell, the Minister of International Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of Sweden, on Tuesday to discuss ties and the proposed foreign transparency bill. 

Kobakhidze claimed the bill, championed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, aimed to bolster national sovereignty by enforcing annual financial disclosures from non-governmental organizations and relevant media channels.

According to the Government press office, the PM emphasized that the legislation was intended to reinforce Georgia's state sovereignty and safeguard against undue external influence. The meeting also focused on enhancing bilateral relations, resulting in significant progress across political, trade, economic, defense, security, education, and cultural spheres.

Additionally, discussions addressed regional security challenges and Georgia's European integration efforts. The Prime Minister reiterated the Georgian government's unwavering commitment to European integration and highlighted the importance of continued support from Western allies, the Government press office said. 

The visiting official on Tuesday raised alarm over Georgia’s foreign transparency bill, which he said could potentially restrict civil society in the country.

Expressing his apprehension during an official visit to Tbilisi, Forssell emphasized, "we cannot dictate to the Georgian government what to do, but we are deeply concerned about the implications of the proposed legislation."

Despite strong opposition from international partners, opposition lawmakers, politicians, and ongoing massive public protests in central Tbilisi, the Georgian Dream party passed the bill on May 1 in its second reading with 83 votes in favor and 23 against.

Last year, the bill faced rejection due to widespread protests. While the content of the bill remains largely unchanged, the only alteration lies in the title, with the term “agent” replaced by “Organization Pursuing the Interests of a Foreign Power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their incomes from abroad.