ICYMI: Cardin, Shaheen, Risch, Colleagues Send Bipartisan Letter to Prime Minister of Georgia Condemning Foreign Agents Law

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, along with Senators Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), Ranking Member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, wrote a bipartisan letter with 11 colleagues to the Prime Minister of Georgia following the re-introduction of a law that would force non-governmental organizations and independent media that receive more than 20 percent of their funding from foreign donors to register as "foreign agents." Such a law, if enacted, would severely limit free speech and undermine the United States' longstanding relationship with Georgia, which is based on shared democratic principles that have also guided Georgia's path towards membership in the European Union.

"This legislation targets civil society, the lifeblood of Georgian democracy, and appears directed at assistance from the United States and Europe, which have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to support Georgia's sovereignty and democratic transition since its secession from the Soviet Union in 1991," wrote the senators. "The legislation contradicts the wishes of the Georgian people, given that 79 percent of Georgians consistently support European Union (EU) membership."

Mass protests first broke out 13 months ago, when the Georgian government first introduced the foreign agents law. The government ultimately withdrew the legislation in response to the public outcry, but have recently re-introduced a similar version of the bill. Once again, peaceful mass protests have taken place on the streets of Tbilisi in opposition to the legislation. The foreign agents bill resembles legislation enacted in Russia in 2012 that undermined democratic opposition to the Kremlin.

In addition to Cardin, Risch, and Shaheen, the letter is signed by U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), Chris Coons (D-Del.), Pete Ricketts (R-Neb.), Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Roger Wicker (R-Miss.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Thom Tillis (R-N.C.), Tim Kaine (D-Va.), Dan Sullivan (R-Alaska), Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.), and Martin Heinrich (D-N.M).

Full text of the letter can be found here and below.

Dear Prime Minister Kobakhidze,

As longstanding friends of Georgia, we are compelled to express our profound concern regarding your government's decision to re-introduce and advance a Russian-style foreign agents law. As you know, the United States has a deep and close relationship with Georgia and its people. We have long supported Georgia's sovereignty, territorial integrity and right to free itself from Russian occupation. We also recognize that Georgia continues to face a number of challenges from Russia, such as extensive malign influence, disinformation campaigns ahead of your national elections and ongoing hybrid warfare.

However, we are increasingly concerned that Georgia's transatlantic aspirations are being actively undermined. Specifically, we are disappointed that the ruling party reintroduced this legislation in Parliament in March, only a year after the Parliament's decision to rescind the legislation in response to mass, large-scale protests. This legislation targets civil society, the lifeblood of Georgian democracy, and appears directed at assistance from the United States and Europe, which have invested hundreds of millions of dollars to support Georgia's sovereignty and democratic transition since its secession from the Soviet Union in 1991.

The legislation contradicts the wishes of the Georgian people, given that 79 percent of Georgians consistently support European Union (EU) membership. This support is etched in Georgia's constitution and has been a policy goal of the Georgian government for decades. The EU has stated clearly that this legislation is at odds with EU norms and values and will impact your country's membership path. The effort to advance this bill also disregards the repeated demonstrations by tens of thousands of Georgians, both in March 2023 and in recent weeks, who have protested peacefully against the foreign agents law.

We must also make it clear that the reintroduced foreign agents law does not mirror any U.S. law and would be used to silence the civil society and media that play a significant role in advancing Georgia's democratic institutions. As you know, while free speech can be uncomfortable for any ruling party, the ability to disagree and express opinions publicly is what makes democracy stronger and more sustainable.

If this legislation is enacted, it could send a powerful message to the Georgian people that its government no longer reflects their wishes, is actively undermining its EU membership agenda, and refuses to uphold its constitution. As a result, this legislation would cast Georgia's strongest partners, the United States and European Union, as malign actors. Such a shift would require U.S. policy toward Georgia to change and reflect the new state of Georgia's politics.

As members of Congress who hold deep affection for the Georgian people and have championed strong bipartisan and bilateral ties with your country, we would be very disappointed if the Georgian Parliament passed the foreign agents law which would undermine Georgia's relationship with the United States. If this legislation is passed, we will be compelled to encourage a shift in U.S. policy toward Georgia which could include sanctions on those responsible for undermining Georgia's democratic development or inhibiting its Euro-Atlantic trajectory, reconsideration of direct U.S. financial assistance and the expansion of visa bans to the United States.

We will never abandon the aspirations of the Georgian people who have made their voices heard, loud and clear, in support of a democratic and European future. The relationship between the U.S. and Georgia is based on mutual interests and shared values. We all desire a strong relationship. The United States stands eager and ready to develop deeper ties that further support Georgia's economic development and Western integration, but this cannot continue until this legislation is withdrawn.

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