MEP Viola von Cramon on Tuesday said the Georgian Dream authorities had been engaged in “sabotaging” the country’s European future, in comments on the last week’s protests in Tbilisi over the controversial foreign agents bill that was labeled as a “Russian law” by domestic NGOs, opposition and the international community. 

Involved in the debate on the issue of Georgia in the European Parliament, the MEP claimed “ all masks are removed” over the Georgian government’s intentions, and stressed the people of Georgia would not allow the change in the country’s foreign course. 

“The Georgian people are so different from his government that everyone will take to the streets to make their voice heard in Tbilisi, Brussels and especially Moscow”, Cramon said.

Fellow MEP Andrius Kubilius slammed Georgian prime minister Irakli Garibashvili for his comments over the draft law on transparency of foreign influence, the protests and the European parliament.  

“Such propaganda would be envied even in the Kremlin” he said. 

For her part, MEP Marina Kaljurand said the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict had “opened up a window of opportunity” for Georgia, but said the window would “not remain open forever”. 

She also addressed the Georgian people and said “MEPs only want peace, security and prosperity” for them. 

The ruling party was forced to withdraw the foreign agents bill on Thursday that was proposed by its former members who still remain in the parliamentary majority, following large-scale rallies in Tbilisi protesting the initiative that was expected to stigmatize and restrict the activities of domestic NGOs and media organizations. 

In his comments PM Garibashvili claimed the “radical” United National Movement opposition party and the country’s foreign partners, who “wish to see Georgia involved in the  Russia-Ukraine war”, had “misled the public” over the “genuine goals” of the bill. 

He also said currently imprisoned former president Mikheil Saakashvili was the “EP’s agent” and the body was doing “everything” to facilitate his “illegal release” from custody through “shameful resolutions”.