US Warning: Georgia Cautioned Against Kremlin Alignment
Georgia has been cautioned by the United States against becoming an adversary of the West if it realigns with Moscow, following the defiance of massive protests by the parliament in Tbilisi, which adopted a law inspired by the Kremlin, as reported by The Guardian.
Assistant Secretary of State Jim O'Brien expressed concerns that the Georgian parliament's adoption of the "foreign agents" law on Tuesday could mark another "turning point" in the turbulent history of the former Soviet state, as reported by News.ro.
He stated that the US has invested billions of dollars in the reconstruction of Georgia since the collapse of the Soviet Union, with hundreds of millions of dollars planned for the country's economy and military.
"All of these aspects require review if we are now perceived as adversaries rather than partners," O'Brien stated at a press conference in Tbilisi.
The US State Department labelled the bill as "Kremlin-inspired" due to its resemblance to legislation introduced by Vladimir Putin into Russian law in 2012, which many argue has been utilised to suppress critics.
Several opposition leaders were brutally assaulted on the streets by unidentified groups, while videos depicted protesters being physically attacked by the police.
Peaceful protests persisted after dark, with protesters marching to Heroes' Square, approximately 2 km from Parliament, and blocking nearby streets.
According to the legislation, media or civil society groups in Georgia receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad will be required to register as "organisations serving the interests of a foreign power" .
European Council President Charles Michel stated after the law was adopted that "if Georgia wishes to join the EU, it must adhere to the fundamental principles of the rule of law and democracy".
Translation by Iurie Tataru
