According to the spokesperson of the United States Department of State, Matthew Miller the USA Government had not yet announced individual sanctions. The USA had earlier proposed to impose sanctions against officials of the executive and legislative branches of the Georgian Government who supported the controversial foreign agent bill.
During the press conference he stated specifically that “although we have proposed a new sanction policy, we have not yet announced individual sanctions. However we will certainly impose these sanctions and will not hesitate to do so in the future.
Miller also stated in his address that foreign agent law was moved Georgia “away from its democratic trajectory” and could “stigmatize civil society organization.” He said that the law had the potential to “stifle the freedoms of association and expression in the country.”
The main provisions of the foreign agent law require the registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets. They have to register themselves as an “organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” This will be a condition if they receive over 20 percent of their funding from any foreign country.
The State Department Spokesperson also underlined that the passage of the law by overriding the president’s veto altered the US relationship with Georgia. Due to these changed circumstances after the foreign agent law was adopted we were constrained to take strict action against the responsible.
It is to be mentioned explicitly that the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced a new visa restriction policy last month. This new proposed policy was announced for “those responsible for undermining democracy” in Georgia.
Those responsible include the members of the ruling Georgian Dream party. Notably after the Georgian president refused to assent and vetoed the bill the Bill was signed by the speaker of the Parliament.
Georgia’s law authorizes the parliament speaker to sign the law if the President refuses to sign the bill. The speaker signed the bill just a day ago which will take the shape of the law. However over 100 civil society organizations have announced that they will not obey the law.
