Washington has threatened to punish Georgian politicians who voted for a ‘foreign agents’ law, the outlet has reported
The US could sanction members of the Georgian government after the country’s parliament passed a new ‘foreign agents’ law opposed by Washington, Politico reported on Monday, citing a draft document.
Georgia’s Transparency of Foreign Influence Act would require NGOs, media outlets, and individuals receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as entities “promoting the interests of a foreign power.” They must also disclose their donors or face a fine of up to $9,500.
On Friday, Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the law, although the move is seen as largely symbolic and is expected to be overruled by parliament.
In their draft bill targeting politicians in the former Soviet state, US lawmakers accuse the ruling Georgian Dream party of an “increasingly illiberal turn.” They also claim Tbilisi has “openly attacked US and other Western democracy promotion organizations” while embracing “increased ties” with Russia and China.
In a bid to “secure democracy,” the proposed US legislation would impose sanctions on government officials who have “material responsibility for undermining or injuring democracy, human rights, or security in Georgia.”