U.S. Senators Jim Risch, ranking member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Jeanne Shaheen, chair of the Subcommittee on Europe and Regional Security Cooperation, today released the following statement after Georgia’s ruling party reintroduced a Russian-style foreign agent law:
“It's incredibly disheartening to see the Georgian government bring back the foreign agents law. All this does is further divide the country. It is similar to laws Russia uses to restrict civil society and suppress political opposition. A democratic government in Georgia should have no reason for it.
“The Georgian people rejected this proposed law via mass demonstrations in March 2023. Not only would this draft law lead the political process in the wrong direction, but it would harm Georgia’s transatlantic integration and its future in the European Union. The upcoming elections in October will be a crucial indicator for Georgia’s democratic future. We strongly urge the Georgian parliament to reject this proposal.”
