POLITICO has seen a leaked draft bill that targets the ruling party lawmakers, law enforcement officers and possible Russian agents in the nation.
POLITICO reports a bill that will be presented to the US Congress which would freeze assets and impose a visa ban on Georgian officials who supported the Russian style “foreign agent” law.
The publication states that they have seen the text of the proposed law and that it warns the ruling party. It also notes that “Tbilisi attacks openly the US and other Western democratic organizations as well as the local and international civil societies organizations while strengthening ties with Russia, China, and other countries.”
POLITICO reports, citing a reliable source, that South Carolina Republican Congressman Joe Wilson is expected to introduce the bill in Congress on Monday.
The terms of the agreement would require top American officials brief Congress on “nodes where improper political influence is taking place, kleptocracy and elite corruption in Georgia,” and on suspected Russian and Chinese Intelligence assets operating in South Caucasus.
The draft law would mandate sanctions as part of a “protection and security of democracy” effort. It would also ban visas for politicians, and their families, who are responsible for “the recent Russia style foreign agent legislation,” which targets NGOs and media outlets who receive more than 20% of their funding from overseas.
The penalties will also target the Georgian security services and law enforcement, who have repressed protests against the bill on foreign agents. Authorities have responded by using tear gas and water cannons, beating activists and opposition politicians and detaining them.
James O’Brien, Assistant U.S. Sec of State for European & Eurasian Affairs, warned that if Georgia passes the foreign agent legislation, “we’ll see restrictions from the United States,” which will affect the finances and travel of those who are behind it. Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Press Secretary, said that the Foreign Agent legislation coming into force would “compel [us] to fundamentally reassess (our relationship with Georgia).
The Georgian parliament passed the foreign agent bill in its third reading last week. However, a majority vote will be required to pass it a final time after the independent president of the country exercised her symbolic power.
The government says the law is necessary to stop foreign interference. It would label NGOs that receive over 20 percent of their funding abroad as foreign agents. Critics fear Georgian Dream may use the law to crackdown on media, civil society and opposition.
Brussels has warned that the law could undermine Georgia’s hopes to join the European Union. The EU granted Georgia Candidate Status in December despite warnings about backsliding and failure to implement key Reforms.
Salome Zurabishvili, the president of Georgia, vetoed a Russian law on May 18. She claimed that “Russian law” cannot be changed or improved.
The United States has stated openly that if this law is passed, it will impose penalties on those who support it and their families as well as those who abuse activists against the law.
Western partners claim the adoption of this legislation will close the door to the European future of Georgia because “there is nowhere for such legislation in Europe”.
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