US threatens to hit NATO applicant with sanctions

Washington may use economic pressure to force Georgia to change policy course, a top American diplomat has warned
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Relations with Georgia have deteriorated since the country passed its so-called foreign agents law

The US may introduce sanctions against Georgia to force the former Soviet republic to change its policy course in line with Western countries, Deputy Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs James O’Brien told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Wednesday.

Relations between Washington and Tbilisi deteriorated after Georgia passed a so-called foreign agents law in May. The legislation obliges non-governmental organizations, media outlets, and individuals who receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as entities “promoting the interests of a foreign power,” and to disclose their donors or face fines of up to $9,500.

“You asked about sanctions, we are actively considering our options there. I won’t preview anything, but we are looking at it,” O’Brien told the committee, noting that Washington has been reviewing aid provided to the South Caucasus nation.

He expressed hope that the Georgian authorities would change their policy in the near future, adding that Washington is ready “to support everything that will contribute to fair and free parliament election in Georgia this fall.”

“A year ago, we saw signs of the wrong path and then the governing party reversed its course and made enormous strides, I’m hopeful that this can happen again in the next months,” O’Brien said.

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The controversial bill was initially introduced in the Georgian parliament in early 2023, but was withdrawn in March of that year due to protests. However, the draft was brought back in May this year and approved despite an attempt by the country’s pro-Western President Salome Zourabichvili to veto the legislation.

While opponents of the new law have described it as an attack on democracy and labeled it as “Russian” because Moscow has similar legislation, supporters have emphasized that it is similar to laws that numerous Western nations, including the US, have in place.

In December 2023, Georgia received the status of a candidate country for accession to the EU. Last month, Brussels said it had put on hold the process of the county’s accession to the bloc and froze a €30 million ($32.5 million) payment allocated to the Georgian Defense Ministry.

Earlier this week, the US suspended more than $95 million in aid to the Georgian government, citing the controversial law.

O’Brien urged the Georgian authorities “to make the foreign agent law compatible with EU law” rather than the Russian one. He also voiced other demands that Washington is placing on Georgia, including “not having China to develop a deep water port” in the country’s western seaside town of Anaklia, and “having free and fair elections without violence against civil society.”