Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, on Tuesday asserted that the threat of sanctions against his government after the Parliament adopted the foreign transparency bill was not a serious concern for the ruling team. During a press conference held at the government administration, Kobakhidze emphasized that any such measures would be counterproductive for those imposing them.

"The issue of sanctions is not serious for us. Attempts to blackmail the Georgian government and its people with sanctions are futile. No one can punish the government elected by the Georgian people. We stand firm in our positions and serve the interests of our country. Discussions about sanctions are, therefore, not serious," stated Kobakhidze.

He reiterated that the Parliament of Georgia acted in accordance with the will of the people and adopted a legally sound law. He noted he expected a pragmatic approach from everyone, including foreign partners, stressing the importance of recognizing the law's correctness.

"There is no argument against this law. It only requires a declaration once a year, which is unassailable. Justice and pragmatism are essential to realizing our common interests. Our partners should recognize the law's fair nature and cease any negative campaigns," he added.

Kobakhidze also invited all parties to engage in a public discussion about the law on "transparency of foreign influence," asserting that alleged previous refusals to discuss stemmed from a lack of solid arguments against the law.

"Anyone willing to debate the law publicly is welcome. We are confident in our position and always ready for discussion. For healthy relations, justice is paramount," he concluded.

The PM also expressed confidence that by 2030, Georgia would be well-prepared to join the European Union with “dignity, independence, sovereignty, and freedom”.

Thousands are now rallying in Tbilisi, condemning the law. Washington plans to impose visa restrictions on members of the Georgian Dream government and their families who are deemed to be undermining democracy. Specific individuals targeted by these restrictions have not yet been named. Additionally, the US will reassess its overall cooperation with Georgia, highlighting the repressive measures used to suppress protests related to the Foreign Influence Transparency law.

The European Union has also indicated that it will take retaliatory measures if the law is enacted. EU officials have repeatedly warned that the law could derail Georgia's candidacy for EU membership, stating that it was incompatible with European values.