"Promises with a completely vague perspective and insulting blackmail," - this is how the ruling Georgian Dream publication responded to the information reported by POLITICO. Based on POLITICO, Washington is considering a comprehensive package of economic and security support for Georgia (MEGOBARI Act) if the government renounces its growing anti-Western rhetoric and stops backsliding on human rights.
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"Yesterday, information was spread in the international media about a bill initiated by an American congressman. According to the draft law, Georgia will receive visa liberalization and a free trade agreement if the government enacts a law on the transparency of NGOs, refrains from adopting a law against LGBT propaganda, conducts elections well, and avoids negative rhetoric towards America. In the opposite case, the bill envisages sanctions against government officials.
During these years, our country has been the object of constant attacks by a number of American politicians and officials, against which the Georgian authorities have had to defend themselves with appropriate rhetoric.
Amid all this, the recovery of Georgian-American relations depends entirely on the right actions of the American side. For this, it is necessary to show respect for the Georgian state and the Georgian people, rather than making promises with a completely vague perspective and resorting to insulting blackmail. Unfortunately, a number of American politicians and officials continue to make mistakes and persist in speaking to Georgia in the language of blackmail.
The government of Georgia is not playing games. We are adopting the law on transparency of NGOs because we see no other possibility to calm the country.
Since 2020, NGOs have already tried twice to organize a revolution in this country, and we could not carelessly wait for a third attempt. For us, this law is not a subject of trade, but an effective means of protecting the sovereignty of Georgia, and we cannot compromise the sovereignty of the country under any circumstances.
A dignified attitude towards Georgia should have been expressed in a completely different way, given the conditions of such dependence.
- The USA would prove that it is a strategic partner of Georgia by granting visa liberalization to Georgian citizens and signing a free trade agreement without any conditions. As is clear from the bill, the USA could have done this before; however, it has shown an indifferent attitude towards Georgia and the Georgian people.
- The US would invest money in the Georgian economy, as it did last in 2009-11 when the Saakashvili regime was on the brink of economic collapse.
- The USA would ensure a change in the behavior of NGOs, particularly the end of their policy of non-recognition of the legitimacy of the Georgian government and the abandonment of revolutionary plans.
- The use of the EU topic as a tool of constant blackmail against Georgia would be stopped, and negotiations with Georgia would be opened by the end of the year, thus restoring justice to Ukraine, Moldova, and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
If they do all this, then there will be no need for the NGO Transparency Act, and we will no longer have to respond to unfair claims. However, if NGOs do not stop their attempts at revolution, they will continue attacking the Orthodox Church, supporting religious extremism, encouraging religious political intervention, promoting LGBT propaganda and drug propaganda, trying to undermine state institutions, and creating obstacles for economic projects. Meanwhile, a number of American politicians and officials will continue to attack Georgia. In this case, we will need a law on transparency and repelling attacks. Therefore, today there is no alternative to the adoption of the law on the transparency of NGOs.
Our partners can qualitatively rearrange their relations within a year at most. If they realize this, relations will be sorted out very quickly. However, if they continue to act with the same approach towards Georgia, they will harm the interests of both Georgia and America.
As has already been stated, everything is in the hands of our partners, and Georgia, as a small country, cannot unilaterally change anything. Therefore, we should hope that rational thought will prevail in America, benefiting both countries," states the statement of the Political Council of Georgian Dream.
Georgian Dream reintroduced the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents, which was recalled last year in parliament on April 3, 2024, and was adopted in the third and final reading on May 14. The authorities did not take into account the warnings of international partners or the demands of the ongoing, large-scale protest actions in the country to unconditionally withdraw the law.
President Salome Zourabichvili vetoed the Russian Law on May 18. The President stated that the Russian Law On Agents contradicts the Constitution of Georgia, all European standards, and is an obstacle to the country's European path.
The Parliament plans to override the President's veto in the next session week.
