Enacting foreign influence bill means Georgian govt deliberately blocking EU, US ties – opposition MP

“If the foreign agents’ law is enacted, it means that the Georgian Dream ruling party is deliberately opposing the initiation of negotiations with the European Union and blocking the negotiation process,” stated Lelo MP Anna Natsvlishvili. 
She further accused the government of hindering Georgia’s advancement in relations with the United States, including prospects for a visa-free regime and enhanced defense cooperation.

Natsvlishvili on Wednesday emphasized that the Venice Commission had “clearly stated” in its conclusion that such a law had no place in a democratic state. “I would like to draw attention to a very important note in the report, which mentions that before the report was made public, it was sent to Georgian Dream for the first time. The authorities were asked for comment. All the briefings and propaganda that the GD spreads regarding the conclusion are fake and intended to deceive the citizens of Georgia,” she added.

She questioned why the ruling party did not present their arguments to the Venice Commission before the report’s publication if they believed in the validity of their position. “Why couldn’t they defend their stance, and why is this conclusion so harsh? This means that under the conditions of this law, no negotiations regarding Georgia’s accession to the European Union will commence.”

Natsvlishvili accused the government of deliberately sabotaging Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic future. “This is a deliberate sabotage by the government – they will have to answer for this,” she asserted.

The controversy over the foreign agents’ law continues to unfold as Georgia’s political landscape faces heightened tensions and international scrutiny.