MEP Viola von Cramon calls for withdrawal of Georgia’s foreign transparency bill

European Parliamentarian Viola von Cramon has voiced opposition to Georgia’s foreign transparency bill referred to as the “Russian law” by domestic actors and allies, and urged the country’s authorities to withdraw it. 

Von Cramon’s message, conveyed via social media on Friday, underscored the resolute disapproval of the majority within the European Parliament towards the contentious legislation.

The parliamentarian has directly appealed to Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, urging the withdrawal of the bill titled “On the influence of foreign agents” from parliamentary consideration. 

“Dear Kobakhidze. no, the interpreter didn’t make a mistake. Neither did the German  ambassador. Absolute majority of the EU Parliament is strictly against the ‘Russian law’. Please withdraw the bill!” she said, adding “the EU admires the courage of Georgians and stands by them”. 

The bill resubmitted by the Georgian ruling party after its rejection last year due to mass protests aims to register non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “aligned with the interests of a foreign power” if they obtain more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad and is largely criticized as a “Russian law” by domestic actors and international partners.