American Republican Congressman Joe Wilson has criticized Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze for holding talks with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian. The meeting took place in Yerevan on the sidelines of the 17th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP17).
The European Council criticized the Georgian government over the adoption of a law on “foreign agents” in the country.
“The adopted Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence represents a departure from the steps outlined in the Commission's recommendation for granting candidate status. We call on the Georgian authorities to clarify their intentions by changing the current course of action, which jeopardizes Georgia’s path to the EU and de facto leads to a halt in the accession process,” says the conclusion following the European Council summit.
The European Council also called on the Georgian authorities to ensure that “free and fair” parliamentary elections are held this fall.
On June 6, the US State Department announced the first package of sanctions imposed for supporting the law on foreign agents. The sanctions involve visa restrictions and will affect members of the Georgian Dream, members of parliament, law enforcement officers and private individuals. In total, up to 30 people are subject to their effect.