The State Department did not rule out the imposition of sanctions against Georgia because of the law on foreign agents

The US may impose sanctions against Georgia because of the law on foreign agents adopted by the Georgian parliament in the first reading. According to RBC, this was stated by the head of the press service of the US State Department, Ned Price.

“We have a set of tools that allow us in any country in the world to hold to account anyone who is responsible for the suppression of human rights,” Price said.

He also noted that the Georgian authorities did not have the right to use tear gas against protesters who took to the streets because of the law on foreign agents. “It is the universal right of people all over the world to unite, to make their voices heard. Speak freely,” Price said, specifying that peaceful demonstrators should have the right to “demonstrate peacefully.”

People came out to protest in connection with the draft law “On the transparency of foreign influence.” During the clashes near the building of the Georgian parliament in Tbilisi, the police used tear gas and water cannons, the protesters used Molotov cocktails. They also made an attempt to break into the Georgian Parliament. As a result, several police officers were injured, as well as equipment and equipment. The interior ministry said in a statement that the protest “has gone beyond freedom of expression and peaceful assembly” by becoming violent.

President Salome Zurabishvili, who is currently in New York, has canceled scheduled meetings. She made an emergency announcement and said she would veto the law on foreign agents if it was finally passed.

From the bill, adopted by Parliament on March 7 in the first reading, it follows that non-profit legal entities and the media will receive the status of agents of foreign influence if more than 20% of their income comes from abroad. Such companies are required to register.