Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, on Monday criticised the United States for imposing visa restrictions without disclosing the names of those affected, stating that this action only served to insult Georgia and did not align with the spirit of partnership.

Kobakhidze emphasised that no Georgian MPs had received notifications regarding these restrictions. "The so-called visa restrictions, not sanctions, were imposed without naming individuals. 

We have confirmed that no MPs have been notified. The opposition's reaction is exaggerated," he said. Kobakhidze added that the decision, which came in response to the adoption of the controversial foreign influence transparency law, was insulting to Georgia and its society, and it did not foster a partner-like dialogue. However, he expressed optimism about improving relations.

Kobakhidze also noted that similar visa restrictions on judges in the past did not affect the judiciary's independence but did harm America's reputation. "Visa restrictions without evidence impact the imposing country's reputation," he claimed. 

Regarding the opposition's reaction, Kobakhidze asserted that their “celebration” over Georgia's supposed punishment was premature. He claimed that “no one intends to punish Georgia or its people. After discussions with several European leaders, I found a healthy attitude towards Georgia. No one is going to punish the Georgian population or its government. Things will improve for the country and worsen for the opposition”.