US Imposes Visa Restrictions on Georgia Over Democracy Concerns
Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State has announced a new visa restriction policy for those responsible for undermining democracy in Georgia. The State Secretary also announced a review of the bilateral relations of the US with Georgia.
State Secretary Antony Blinken announced this news via his X platform :
Blinken said that over the past few months the ruling Georgian Dream party has developed and passed “foreign influence” legislation. This will affect the freedom of association and expression of the Georgian people. Media Institute is also working as a link between truth and the public.
As Georgian citizens have voiced opposition to the law, we have seen clear indications of a campaign of intimidation and the use of violence to suppress peaceful dissent. “ Said Blinken.
Further Blinken announced in his statement “In response to these actions, the Department of State is implementing a new visa restriction policy for Georgia that will apply to individuals who are responsible for or complicit in undermining democracy in Georgia, as well as their family members. This includes individuals responsible for suppressing civil society and freedom of peaceful assembly in Georgia through a campaign of violence or intimidation.”
While imposing this new visa ban, Blinken strongly stated that the US supports democracy in Georgia and that democracy is the pillar of all bilateral relations between the US and Georgia. If anyone tries to harm Georgia’s democracy or influence the Georgian elections in 2024, he may also face visa restrictions from the US.
US States Secretary said we hope that Georgia’s leaders will reconsider the draft law and take steps to move forward with their country’s democratic and Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Protests were taking place in Georgia!
Georgian Dream Party passed a law in Parliament earlier this month. As per the reports of Politico they pledged to overrule a veto signed by the president of Georgia.
Citizens of Georgia walked onto streets in Tbilisi and around the country to protest against the foreign agents law.
The bill passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party last week requires NGOs and media outlets that get over 20 percent of their funding from outside Georgia to register as groups “pursuing the interests of a foreign power”.
EU also resigned their unwillingness with this law. The US warned Georgia that implementing foreign agents law can change the US-Georgia relations too.
