Pawel Herczynski, the European Union Ambassador in Georgia, stated that if the Georgian Parliament approves the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents, Brussels and the 27 member states will have to react together.
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"Unfortunately, Georgia is making headlines on international television, and the reasons are not good. We are deeply concerned but believe there is still time to change course and return to the path of European integration.
We demand an immediate end to intimidation, threats, and violence. I hope we will not be forced into a situation where less is exchanged for less, which would be negative and would harm ordinary citizens.
However, we will do everything to prevent this from happening," the EU Ambassador told the media.
He stated that if this law is adopted in its current form, it cannot be ruled out that it will have negative consequences.
"We have financial assistance and visa liberalization that citizens enjoy. The agreement also includes protective mechanisms that we can use in case of coercion, but we do not want to reach this stage. We must now redouble our efforts to resolve the current situation.
There is still time and procedures to prevent this law from being passed. I sincerely hope that we, together with members of parliament and all political parties, will explore all ways to prevent this law from being passed and avoid having to worry about the consequences. At the same time, if this law is approved, of course, the leaders in Brussels, together with the 27 member states, will have to react. I hope we will not reach this stage - a spiral of negative events. I don't want the Georgian people to be punished, because in the end, it will have a negative impact on ordinary people, each person. That is why, at this moment and under the given circumstances, it is our joint responsibility to ensure that we do not move to this stage," said the EU ambassador.
On May 8, in Brussels, the ambassadors of the member states of the European Union once again discussed the issue of Georgia and explored potential measures they might take against Georgia in the event of the adoption of the so-called Agents Russian Law. According to Rikard Jozwiak, the editor of RFE/RL's European Bureau, there is no indication of a suspension of visa liberalization.
On April 3, 2024, Georgian Dream once again initiated the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents in parliament, which had been withdrawn a year ago following thousands of protests, with a promise to never accept it again. The Russian Law requires independent media and non-governmental organizations operating with grant support from international funds and unable to be controlled by the government or related groups to register as foreign agents. Mass protests against the Russian Law have been ongoing in Tbilisi since April 15. The Georgian Dream has already passed the bill in two readings. The final hearing is scheduled for the week of May 13.
