The Georgian Parliament today approved a controversial law on “foreign influence”, which is at the origin of strong protest demonstrations violently repressed by the police.
The law will require all organizations, media outlets and similar entities that receive at least 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “agents of foreign influence”.
“I am following the situation in Georgia with great concern and condemn the violence on the streets of Tbilisi,” Von der Leyen said in a statement.
For the president of the European Commission, the citizens of Georgia are demonstrating a strong attachment to democracy and her Government “must listen to this clear message”.
Von der Leyen recalled that the European Union (EU) also “clearly expressed its concerns regarding the law on foreign influence”.
“The Georgian people want a European future for their country. In recognition of these aspirations, the European Council in December granted Georgia candidate status and set out a clear path towards opening accession negotiations,” he said.
And he left a warning: “We hope that the Government of Georgia will act quickly in relation to the measures it has committed to take as a candidate country”.
“Georgia is at a crossroads. It must stay the course on the road to Europe,” she said.
The law on “foreign influence”, which is at the origin of strong protest demonstrations violently repressed by the police, was approved in second reading with 83 votes in favor and 23 against.
The repression of the demonstrations was criticized today by the head of European Union diplomacy, Josep Borrell, who “vehemently condemned the violence” of the security forces against protesters, considering the use of force to contain peaceful protests “unacceptable”.
Tags: President European Commission condemns violence Georgia approval law News
