May 24 :
The new visa limitation policy for individuals involved for undermining democracy in Georgia was announced by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. A full evaluation of US-Georgia bilateral collaboration would be initiated, he added.
According to Blinken's post on X, "I am announcing a new visa restriction policy for those responsible for undermining democracy in Georgia, including in connection with the Georgian Dream's proposed "foreign influence" legislation." Blinken made a statement pointing out that the ruling Georgian Dream party has been busy in the last few months passing a "foreign influence" law that would limit people's ability to freely associate and express themselves, stigmatise organisations that help the Georgian people, and make it harder for independent media outlets to give the Georgian people access to good news.
A campaign of intimidation and the use of violence to crush peaceful dissent has been evident as Georgian citizens have voiced their opposition to the bill, he added. In addition to violating Georgia's long-stated goal of Euro-Atlantic integration and strategic partnership with the United States, the "national security law" and the repressive tactics used to suppress legitimate dissent weaken Georgia's democracy and the basic freedoms that the Georgian people are entitled to.
A new visa limitation policy for Georgia is being implemented by the Department of State in reaction to these acts, according to a statement by Blinken. This policy will affect those responsible for or involved in undermining democracy in Georgia, as well as their family members. Among them are those who, by a combination of threats and physical force, stifled Georgia's civil society and the right to peaceful assembly.
Blinken emphasised that the United States' backing of Georgia's democratic government is both historic and fundamental to the nature of the bilateral relationship. He made it clear that the policy might make it such that no one from Georgia, even those involved in the run-up to, during, or after the country's October 2024 elections, is able to get a US visa. He went on to say that these limitations could extend to the people who are directly related to these individuals.
In addition, he announced that a thorough evaluation of US-Georgia bilateral collaboration would be launched today. The leaders of Georgia still have our best wishes for a reevaluation of the proposed law and the advancement of Georgia's democratic and Euro-Atlantic ambitions. When assessing the state of our bilateral relationship, we will consider Georgia's moves while making our own.
According to Politico, the ruling Georgian Dream party passed the law in Parliament earlier this month and has promised to override the president's veto. Protests against the foreign agents law have been going on for weeks in Tbilisi and around Georgia. If passed, the measure would call for the registration of any person or organisation receiving more than 20% of its support from a foreign government as a "foreign agent" and as an advocate for the foreign power's interests with the internal security agencies.
There are certain organisations that qualify as "foreign agents" yet have chosen not to register. They were afraid the courts and police would raid and shut down their operations and perhaps put people in jail if they were identified. According to Politico, the laws closely resemble those of Russia, which criminalised pro-democracy organisations, opposition leaders, journalists, and news organisations in 2012 after introducing identical legislation.
EU authorities have publicly opposed Georgian Dream's legal efforts, claiming that they are at odds with Georgia's ambitions to become a member of the bloc. Lawmakers in the United States expressed concern that approving the foreign agents bill would necessitate a dramatic change in American policy towards Georgia.
