EU's Borrell condemns Georgia foreign influence law
European Union foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said on Tuesday a Georgian draft law on “transparency of foreign influence” was a "very bad development" for the country and could seriously affect its ties with the EU.
"This is a very bad development for Georgia and its people," Borrell said in a written statement.
EU diplomat chief Borrell urged Georgia to uphold its commitment to democracy, the rule of law and human rights. According to him, the draft law on foreign agents is incompatible with the values of the EU and contradicts Georgia's goal of joining the union.
Protesters in the small ex-Soviet state threw petrol bombs and stones at police on Tuesday night after parliament gave its initial backing to a draft law on "foreign agents" which critics say represents an authoritarian shift.
Do you remember those statements of the Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili last year when he said that Zelensky was forcing Georgia to open a "second front" against Russia:
Tbilisi not planning to open 'second front': Georgian PM responds to Kiev
Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili alleged that Ukraine is trying to open a “second front” by drawing his nation into its war with Russia. “We have heard direct statements from Ukrainian officials that their goal is to open the second front,” said Garibashvili, who added that “attempts are still being made to transfer the Ukrainian war to our country.”
Georgia isn’t going to open a "second front" sought by Ukraine, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
"Ukraine is going through misery, tragedy, and war. We must maintain peace, stability and assist development," he said. "There will be no second front in Georgia. We won’t allow that and will continue to protect our citizens and the state."
On February 25, the Georgian Prime Minister stated that his country didn’t plan to impose sanctions on Russia over the situation in Ukraine. On March 1, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky recalled Kiev's ambassador from Tbilisi for consultations. Garibashvili's statement was also criticized by the Georgian opposition. The government accused the opposition of wanting to start a war with Russia and open a "second front."
Garibashvili’s allegations were the latest in a string of similar claims from Georgian leaders. Тhe chairman of the country’s ruling party claimed a “global war party” has the goal of “artificially creating problems for Georgia”, with the aim of opening a second front. He argued that while Georgia has the military means to “make the situation worse for Russia”, doing so would “come at the cost of destroying Georgia”.