**Council of Europe Secretary General Announces Deal with Georgian Government**
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, has announced that he received a promise from the Georgian government to form a working group to amend the Foreign Agents’ law. However, this announcement was met with criticism from President Salome Zurabishvili and representatives of civil society organizations.
**President Criticizes Council of Europe**
President Zurabishvili expressed her disappointment with the Secretary General’s decision, stating that he seemed “confused” about the situation in Georgia. She emphasized that the Foreign Agents’ law is a problem, not just because of the law itself, but also because it reflects the Russian-style government that exists in Georgia.
**Civil Society Organizations React**
Heads of leading Georgian civil society organizations also criticized the Secretary General’s announcement. They stressed that the repeal of the Foreign Agents’ law will not address the current crisis and that the problem is the Russian-style government, rather than the law itself.
Nona Kurdovanidze from the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association stated that the Venice Commission has already said that the Foreign Agents’ law must be repealed, not amended. Tamta Mikeladze from the Social Justice Center emphasized that the law is a paradigmatic anti-democratic law and cannot be refined.
**Opposition Leaders React**
Leaders of opposition parties also criticized the Secretary General’s announcement. Giorgi Gakharia from the For Georgia party joked that Ivanishvili promised Berset the post of Vice-Prime Minister. Other opposition leaders emphasized that they will not negotiate with an “illegitimate gang” and called for new elections.
**Key Demands Remain Unchanged**
Despite the criticism, the key demands remain unchanged: unconditional freedom for political prisoners and new, fair elections.