Georgia’s ruling party denounces American and European “blackmail” and pledges to adopt Russian-style law – POLITICO

“Our country has been subject to constant attacks by a number of American politicians and officials, against which the Georgian government must defend itself,” the ruling party said, calling for “the rational sense prevails in America.

Georgian Dream said Washington should ease visa requirements and sign a free trade deal “with no strings attached”, insisting the foreign agents bill will be passed regardless of the president’s conviction. stranger. The United States should also “change the behavior of NGOs… by putting aside their revolutionary projects,” he continues.

The statement also said that EU membership is being used “as a permanent blackmail tool against Georgia” and urged Brussels to begin accession negotiations by the end of the year in order to “restore the equity” with other candidate countries such as Moldova and Ukraine, which have already started negotiations. process.

Georgia was granted EU candidate status in December, despite warnings of a setback on human rights and a failure to implement key reforms. Brussels said passing the foreign agents bill would torpedo its membership hopes.

Georgian Dream says the law is necessary to protect against foreign interference, but given that it also introduced a Russian-style ban on “LGBTQ+ propaganda” and threatened a crackdown on opposition parties, the country’s Western partners countries fear it is part of a pivot toward Moscow.

Tens of thousands of Georgians have taken to the streets in recent weeks to protest the bill. Riot police used force to disperse protesters and arrested opposition politicians.