European parliamentarian Viola von Cramon has once again reacted to the re-initiation of the Russian law by “Georgian Dream”. According to her, the European Union should clearly communicate to the government and the people that if this law is adopted, the next stage on the road to European integration – negotiations will not be opened for Georgia.
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On social network X, Viola von Kramon writes that the "Georgian Dream" promised European democracy, but instead, it has once again presented the Russian law.
“Georgian Dream promised European democracy but instead reintroduced "Russian law". They lied as usual, & these lies can cost Georgia its candidacy. The law will exclusively target pro-democracy NGOs while Russian agents (real threat to 🇬🇪) continue with impunity,” Von Cramon declares.
As she notes, the law will be directed exclusively against pro-democracy non-governmental organizations, while Russian agents will continue their activities with impunity.
“The purpose of the bill is to smear the only pro-democratic non-governmental organizations as foreign agents, undermine their credibility in the eyes of the public, and allow Georgian Dream to continue eroding Georgian democracy and the European future with impunity. Needless to say that Russian agents, who are a real threat to Georgia and are widely present in the country, will be allowed to continue their covert operations without any hurdle,” says the MEP.
Viola von Cramon fears that the adoption of the Russian law may jeopardize Georgia's candidate status.
The EU candidate status was granted to Georgia not because of its government, but in spite of it. This decision was a credit of the courage of the Georgian people to stand up for democracy and European values.
The European Union needs to clarify unequivocally to the Georgian government and the People of Georgia that by adopting the "Russian law", the Georgian Dream is deliberately shutting the doors to the European future of the country, as there will be no opening of accession talks or any other form of the EU integration after this," said Viola von Cramon.
"Georgian Dream" aims to push for the parliament's adoption of the Russian law on so-called foreign agents in all three hearings by the end of the current session, a measure it previously rejected in March 2023 amidst protests and international pressure. The draft law was registered by the Bureau of the Parliament on April 8, and the legal committee will consider it on April 15. The text remains unchanged, with only "agent of foreign influence" replaced by the term "organization carrying the interests of a foreign power." President Salome Zurabishvili will veto the Russian law if adopted, although "Georgian Dream" holds sufficient votes in the parliament to override it.
