Matthew Miller, the Spokesperson for the United States Department of State, said the US joined their European allies in urging Georgia not to enact the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, which goes against the wishes of the overwhelming majority of Georgian citizens - the desire to integrate fully into the EU.

Miller noted his country was “gravely disappointed” by the Georgian legislative body’s decision to advance “Kremlin-inspired foreign influence legislation”, stressing as the EU had stated, “passage of this law could compromise” Georgia’s progress on its European path.

Georgia has a vibrant civil society that serves its citizens and works to improve Georgia’s economy.  If adopted, the proposed legislation could limit freedom of expression, stigmatise organisations that deliver these benefits to the citizens of Georgia, and impede independent media organizations working to provide Georgians with access to high quality information”, the Spokesperson pointed out.

He emphasized “such Kremlin-inspired legislation is not appropriate if the goal is to promote transparency”.

To be reminded, the first reading of the legislative piece was supported by 83 MPs in the 150-member lawmaking body, on the backdrop of public protests and criticism by some of the country’s foreign partners.