US condemns use of violence against those protesting 'foreign influence' bill in Georgia

By Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - The US on Wednesday condemned a “foreign influence” bill advanced in Georgia’s parliament and the use of violence against those protesting against it.

"Members of the ruling party have been clear that the intent of the law is to silence critical voices and destroy Georgia’s vibrant civil society, which serves as a critical check on government in any democratic nation," State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement, describing the bill as “Kremlin-inspired.”

"This legislation and Georgian Dream’s anti-Western rhetoric put Georgia on a precarious trajectory. The statements and actions of the Georgian government are incompatible with the democratic values that underpin membership in the EU and NATO and thus jeopardize Georgia’s path to Euro-Atlantic integration," he added.

Miller also condemned the narrative that government officials have adopted to defend the bill, adding that such comments "mischaracterizing" foreign assistance in Georgia undermine the “strong relations” between the US and the government and people of Georgia.

"We stand with the Georgian people and their right to have their voices heard. We condemn the use of violence against peaceful protests, including against journalists covering the demonstrations," he said.

The Georgian parliament voted in support of the controversial "foreign influence" bill on Wednesday amid ongoing protests in the capital Tbilisi.

The bill, presented to parliament by the ruling Georgian Dream party, requires organizations including media outlets that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register with the state registry. It also obliges them to publish annual financial reports.

Security forces in the former Soviet republic intervened using tear gas and water cannons against demonstrators on Wednesday who were attempting to besiege parliament while protesting against the controversial bill.