Paweł Herczyński, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Thursday warned the citizens of Georgia would suffer if the ruling Georgian Dream party adopted the controversial foreign transparency bill.
"I don't want people to suffer; every individual will bear the consequences," he addressed the media at the Rustaveli Theater before the commencement of the Europe Day event, expressing concern over the public tension and repercussions faced by opponents of the bill.
He highlighted the deep polarization within Georgia and emphasized the urgent need to halt violence immediately. "Regrettably, every night we witness distressing scenes on our TV screens, hear about menacing phone calls, and witness acts of violence and assaults. This must cease without delay."
Reiterating the stance of Western leaders, Herczyński emphasized that the current draft law on "transparency of foreign influence" posed a significant obstacle to Georgia's integration into the European Union. "We earnestly hope that measures will be taken to either withdraw or substantially amend this bill."
The ambassador anticipated the imminent conclusion of the Venice Commission on the draft law and expressed hope that parliamentary procedures would be employed to prevent its adoption in its current form.
"Hence, at this juncture, let us remain hopeful that this bill will not be ratified, sparing us from potential adverse reactions from the EU," stated Herczyński.
He revealed ongoing deliberations with Georgian MPs and all political factions to prevent the bill’s adoption, thus averting the need for the EU's 27 member states to seek recourse.
"I fervently hope we do not escalate to that extent; I wish to spare people from suffering as every individual will be impacted," Herczyński remarked.
On May 8, EU member states' ambassadors convened once more in Brussels to discuss Georgia, including potential measures should the country enact the law on foreign agents.
Rikard Jozwiak, editor of RFE/RL's European Bureau, reported that "suspending the liberalization of the visa regime is under consideration," alongside "exploring all available measures." Despite extensive protests, on May 1, 2024, the Parliament passed the bill in the second reading during the plenary session.
The law encompasses almost all non-governmental organizations and numerous media outlets in Georgia, which obtain more than 20 percent of incomes from abroad.
Following the bill's return to parliament, protests erupted in Tbilisi.Both the European Union and the United States have repeatedly cautioned the Georgian authorities that adopting the bill would impede Georgia's progress towards EU integration.
