The US and EU have doubled down on pressure on Georgia over its controversial Russian-inspired foreign agent law.

The West increases its pressure About Georgia Following the approval of the controversial transparency law on foreign influence by the country’s parliament, controlled by the Georgian Dream government party, the European Union (EU) and the United States (USA), NATO and even the United Nations The Georgian initiative has been condemned. and told officials improve your judgment, which has already led to several weeks of mass protests by activists and opponents on the streets of Tbilisi. The demonstration was repeated this Wednesday also.

“We urge Georgia to change this law Distances (countries) from European integration. and Euro-Atlantic,” said Farah Dakhallah, spokeswoman for the Atlantic Alliance. “This initiative isvery disappointing”, agreed Marija Page&ccaron, Secretary General of the Council of Europe; Buri, who also stressed that the initiative had already received parliamentary approval before the Venice Commission, the body that helps countries comply with European standards, ruled on the proposal.

from usa, the tone was even louder. White House spokeswoman Karine Jean-Pierre warned of possible changes If so-called ‘Russian law’ applies in its relationship with Georgia. And, similarly, James O’Brien, the US Under Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, also warned of the potential ban on politicians Georgians who are supporting the proposal. “If the law goes beyond compliance with EU rules and undermines democracy here and leads to violence against peaceful protesters (…), we will see sanctions from the United States. These are usually financial or travel restrictions on the individuals responsible for these actions and their families,” O’Brien said.

more opposition

unusually harsh words also came the united nations, High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, assured that the legislative proposal “seriously undermines the freedom Of expression and connection. The consequences of this decision “risk being significant”, Turk said, adding that he also called for an investigation into reports of police violence against protesters, some of whom were also arrested this Wednesday. ,to intimidate, threaten and attack EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Josep Borrell and Commissioner for Foreign Affairs also reiterated, “Physical injuries to civil society representatives, political leaders and journalists, as well as their families, are unacceptable.” Joint statement, Hungarian Oliver Varhelyi.

The few news, which came from outside, were received with a certain enthusiasm by the protesters in Tbilisi who oppose government initiatives, especially by the student group Defioni (Sunset), which has organized protests in the capital of Georgia from the beginning. Had led the protests. Again serving as a true driving force for civil unrest. However, among the crowd, there was also some uncertainty about what would happen next, as the country’s President Salome Zourabichvili once again confirmed that she would not support the legislative project and met with some European politicians, who at the time Are in the country.

A rejection, it is one that, at the moment, does not seem to have the desired effect on the government of Irakli Kobakhidze, which this Wednesday continues to signal that it is determined to achieve its objectives. Something that, if nothing changes, could further fuel anger in a country mired in a deep political crisis that is difficult to resolve.