Georgian Prime Minister declared readiness to discuss amendments to the law on foreign agents

The Georgian authorities are ready to start discussions on changes to the law on foreign agents if they are given concrete justifications for what is wrong with it. This was stated by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on December 20.

"If someone proves to us that the law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" violates the principles of law, we are, of course, ready for discussion. We are ready for discussions and cooperation with the structures of the Council of Europe," Sputnik Georgia's Telegram channel quoted Kobakhidze's statement at a briefing.

In turn, Secretary General of the Council of Europe Alain Berset noted after the conversation with Kobakhidze that the CE will facilitate the start of this dialog.

"Now we will create a working group with Georgia and experts from the Council of Europe, Venice Commission to determine the changes that will be made in this law," he said at a press conference.

Relations between Georgia and the EU escalated after Tbilisi on November 28 refused to negotiate accession to the European Union - the ruling party postponed them until the end of 2028. For the same period Georgia refused "any EU budget grants". After this decision, protests were held in different cities.

Against this background, the U.S. State Department suspended partnership with the Georgian side and announced its readiness to impose new sanctions. The French Foreign Ministry accused the Georgian authorities of "repression", Latvia banned entry of 13 citizens of the country, and Ukraine imposed sanctions against 19 Georgian politicians.

Later, on December 14, presidential elections were held in Georgia. As a result, Georgian presidential candidate Mikhail Kavelashvili of the Georgian Dream party won the necessary 200 votes. Back on December 13, incumbent Georgian leader Salome Zurabishvili noted that she would not leave the presidential palace when her term of office expired.

On May 14, the Georgian parliament passed the law on foreign agents in its third and final reading. Zurabishvili later said that she intends to veto the adopted bill. The situation around the law provoked a wave of protests, as well as the reaction of the West. The EC and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell said in a joint statement that the adoption of the law on foreign agents by the Georgian authorities would have a negative impact on the country's integration into the European Union.