Irakli Kadagishvili, Chairman of the Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules in the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday claimed the adoption of the foreign influence bill would not harm the country’s relations with the US and the EU, amid warnings of sanctions and potential backsliding on Tbilisi’s EU path.  

"Yesterday, at the meeting of the Committee on Legal Affairs, we all witnessed a pitiful situation where those opposing the law had no legal arguments. They did not even provide a legal note explaining why the transparency law is problematic. Claims that it is Russian, discriminatory, or anti-democratic have been made at different times, but no one has explained why transparency itself is bad," stated Kadagishvili.

He stressed that transparency was a core principle of democracy and was vital for European integration and argued that threats of sanctions against Georgia for adopting this law were baseless and counterproductive.

"Now, with legal arguments exhausted, we see blackmail through threats of sanctions against Georgia, its MPs, etc. Firstly, the legislative activity of a sovereign country is not subject to any sanctions by international standards. Secondly, this law is not directed against the Georgian-American strategic relationship and does not affect any aspect of this relationship. Therefore, discussing sanctions is counterproductive and harmful to these relations and serves the interests of those who oppose the Georgian-American strategic partnership," he explained.

Kadagishvili assured that the adoption of this law would not harm Georgia's relationships with the US or the EU and highlighted the importance of Georgia's sovereignty and the right to enact laws that ensure transparency within the country.

"With the adoption of this law, relations with the US or the EU will not be damaged. It is crucial for Georgian society to understand that Georgia is a sovereign state. It has the right to know what is happening within and around its country, to adopt relevant laws, and to engage in international relations as an independent entity. Our political, strategic, and geopolitical goals remain unchanged. Our message is to maintain mutual openness in these relations, respect each other's legal rights and concerns without double standards, and continue building connections," concluded Kadagishvili.

The Georgian Parliament is set to override the President’s veto on the bill today amid mass protests inside the country and international criticism.