Head of the ruling Georgian Dream party Mamuka Mdinaradze said Georgia “independence” was “not for sale for any visa”, after U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced visa restrictions for “those responsible for undermining democracy” in Georgia.
The Georgian lawmaker claimed a “policy of blackmail and threats” was continuing to prevent Georgia from making independent decisions based on its own interests.
"The policy of blackmail and threats continues to prevent Georgia from making independent decisions based on its own interests. Despite spending hundreds of millions, the agents are so weak that they only rely on and benefit from actions of external actors”, Mdinaradze said.
According to him, citizens of Georgia, who he said would “never give up our land, language, faith, traditions, dignity, justice”, would become “full-fledged members of the European family”, in reference to the EU integration efforts of the country.
Mdinaradze added that in the end, everyone will have to talk to the Georgian people and the Government elected by them, not those appointed from outside.
What is the foreign agents law in Georgia?
Last week, the Georgian Parliament adopted the law, which requires groups “considered to be an organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power” - determined by more than 20% of their funding coming from abroad - to be registered in the public registry with the status and publicise their received funding.
Georgia's foreign agents bill has been met by public protests and criticism from some of Georgia’s international partners, and was vetoed by Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, however the ruling party has enough votes to overcome her veto.
