EU calls on Georgian authorities to halt tendencies of “threats, violence” against civil society

The European Union on Wednesday called on Georgian authorities to “halt tendencies of threats and violence” against civil society on the backdrop of public protests against the recently adopted bill on transparency of foreign influence reintroduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party.   

The statement also urged  the Georgian authorities to “put an end” to negative developments and investigate the documented acts of violence and intimidation against civil activists “thoroughly and in a timely manner”. 

Peter Stano, the European Union Spokesperson for External Affairs, also mentioned the increasing number of reported acts of intimidation, threats and physical assaults on civil society representatives, political leaders, civil activists and journalists in Georgia. 

“The EU, once again, The EU also remains deeply concerned about the widespread disinformation about the EU and its values. It calls on Georgian authorities to refrain from statements which are inaccurate and not in line with Georgia’s stated EU aspirations, and that negatively impacts Georgia’s relations with the EU and its Member States”, the statement said.

The EU noted it was currently “considering all options” for responding to the adoption of the controversial law and other actions “undermining” democracy and the rule of law in the country. 

“We urge the Government to recommit to the EU path. The EU continues to stand with the Georgian people and their overwhelming choice in favour of democracy and of Georgia’s European future”, the statement concluded.

The law on transparency of foreign influence requires registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.

It was supported by 84 MPs in the 150-member Parliament, with 30 voting against, and requires the groups “considered to be an organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power” to be registered in the public registry with the status and publicise their received funding.