Bill proposed by former members of Georgian ruling party aims at harassing civil society, media, opposition – David Kramer

Former US Deputy Secretary of State David Kramer on Monday said the recently proposed bill on foreign agents by the Georgian People’s Power – a movement composed of former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, who still remain in the parliamentary majority – aimed at harassing the civil society, journalists and the opposition.

“Unfortunately, it is very similar to the law that was adopted by the Russian Duma and signed by President Vladimir Putin”, Kramer said, adding “this is a premeditated effort by Georgian Dream and its allies in the Georgian parliament to reduce space for civil society organizations, and unfortunately, it looks like this legislation will pass”. 

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the GD in the parliament, on Monday said his party could vote for the bill following “agreeing on key points”. 

The United States expressed concerns over the bill last week. 

“The proposed law isolates and silences the independent voices of Georgian citizens who seek a better future for their society. We believe that this law poses potential threats to Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration,” Ned Price, the US Department of State Spokesperson said.  
He also denied that the bill borrowed ideas from “similar” American legislation as the authors had claimed that.  

“Claims that this bill is based on the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) are false. This bill appears to be based on similar Russian and Hungarian legislation,” Price said.

The opposition says that the People’s Power is voicing the current Government’s anti-western sentiments.