US Vice President expresses concern over adoption of transparency law in Georgia

The United States Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday expressed her concern over the latest developments in Georgia, including the Georgian Parliament's recent adoption of the bill on transparency of foreign influence.

In her letter to the Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on the occasion of the country’s Independence Day on May 26, Harris noted US President Biden had been following events in Georgia “with great concern”.

We worry about developments, such as the Georgian parliament's recent passage of the foreign agents bill, that could threaten Georgia's democracy and undermine Georgia's relationship with the United States and Europe. We applaud your recent actions to veto that anti-democratic measure and your commitment to protect civil society as it comes under threat in Georgia”, Harris said.

She also noted the US Government had supported Georgia's democracy and Euro-Atlantic aspirations “for more than three decades”.

“Since Russia's invasion in 2008, the United States has been steadfast in our support for Georgia's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Our partnership is grounded in shared values, common interests, and mutual respect. We fought shoulder to shoulder in Afghanistan, and the United States is the largest supplier of foreign assistance to Georgia to help build critical infrastructure, strengthen democratic institutions, and modernise your military forces”, she continued.

Harris stressed Georgian citizens had been “clear they want a future” in the European Union and NATO.

They recognise that the foreign agents bill puts that future at risk, which is why they have strongly opposed it. They have every right to pursue that future, and force must not be used to prevent peaceful assembly and the exercise of the right to freedom of expression. [...] The United States stands with you and all Georgians in pursuit of a better future”, Harris concluded.

The development follows the ruling Georgian Dream party's adoption of a law, which requires groups “considered to be an organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power” - determined by more than 20 percent of their funding coming from abroad - to be registered in the public registry with the status and publicise their received funding.

The law has been met by public protests and criticism by some of the country’s foreign partners.

Zourabichvili vetoed the law, however the ruling party has enough votes to override her veto.