US warns it will 'fundamentally reassess' ties with Georgia if foreign influence bill enacted

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - The Biden administration warned the eastern European nation of Georgia on Tuesday that it would "fundamentally reassess" its ties if Tbilisi enacts a controversial bill that critics say is intended to stifle free speech and pull the Caucasian state closer to Russia in a blow to its EU aspirations.

White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre said the administration is "deeply troubled" by the divisive foreign agents bill, which opponents said is mirrored off a law in Russia that has been used to stamp out dissent.

Jean-Pierre said Washington expects President Salome Zourabichvili, a proponent of Georgia's alignment with the EU, to veto the bill. She noted, however, that it remains unclear if parliament will attempt to override his expected action.

"We have been outspoken about our concerns with the legislation, which runs counter to democratic values and would move Georgia further away from the values of the European Union. And let's not forget also NATO," she told reporters.

"We will see what the parliament does, but if this legislation passes, it will compel us to fundamentally reassess our relationship with Georgia," she added.

Jean-Pierre would not elaborate on what the overhaul would encompass.

Georgia's parliament granted final approval to the bill Tuesday, sending it to Zourabichvili to sign into law or veto.

Over the weekend, tens of thousands of Georgians protested in Georgia's capital against the bill, demanding it be withdrawn from parliament. The demonstrations were some of the largest amid a month of vocal popular dissent.

The State Department separately said Washington values ties with Tbilisi, maintaining the US “would like to continue to deepen" the relationship.

"And there is still time to work collaboratively, but it's our point of view that the Georgian government needs to change course from the one that it's on," spokesperson Vedant Patel added.

*Servet Gunerigok contributed to this report