US suspends $95 million in aid to Georgia over its Foreign Agents Law

The United States suspends more than $95 million in aid to Georgia due to the anti-democratic actions and false statements of the Georgian government, which are incompatible with the norms of EU and NATO membership, Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced.

‘We suspend our assistance to the government of Georgia’ – Blinken

“While we suspend our assistance to the government of Georgia, the United States will continue to support programs and activities that benefit the people of Georgia by strengthening democracy, the rule of law, independent media, and economic development. We will remain loyal to the Georgian people and their Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” Blinken stated.

According to him, the pause in US aid is the result of a review of bilateral relations between the countries, which Washington announced back in May, along with visa sanctions against those involved in the adoption of the law on “foreign agents” and the dispersal of protests in Georgia.

Then, the ruling party of Georgia, “Georgian Dream,” accused Washington of implementing a policy of “threats and blackmail.”

“The anti-democratic actions and false statements of the Georgian government are incompatible with the norms of EU and NATO membership,” Blinken stressed.

The Georgian government has not yet responded to his statement.

Georgia’s law on “foreign agents”

The Parliament of Georgia finally approved the law on “foreign agents” in May 2024, despite opposition resistance and mass protests that resulted in clashes in the capital.

The law mandates the creation of a special register in Georgia, listing all non-commercial legal entities and media that receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. They must publish an annual financial report; otherwise, there will be fines and inspections.

This law is actually analogous to the law on “foreign agents” in Russia. The document states that foreign funding will grant media outlets and public organizations the status of “agents of foreign influence.”

The prosecutor’s office, not the State Register Service, is responsible for registering foreign agents. Legal entities will face fines and imprisonment for up to five years if they violate the law.

The United States and the European Union both condemned the parliament’s decision. The EU stated that the adopted law effectively halts Georgia’s integration. The US announced a “comprehensive review” of bilateral cooperation with Georgia due to the suppression of democratic freedoms.

The European Union’s Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, announced the suspension of Georgia’s EU accession process. Thus, the European Union has suspended Georgia’s integration process.

The US postponed military exercises with Noble Partner Georgia for an indefinite period due to the law on “foreign agents.”