Biden expresses disappointment over Georgia’s foreign agents law

U.S. President Joe Biden has conveyed his disappointment to Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili regarding the adoption of a controversial foreign agents law in Georgia.

In a letter marking the 16th anniversary of the South Ossetia conflict, Biden criticized the law as an “anti-democratic” move reminiscent of Kremlin-style policies, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

He also condemned false statements from Georgian officials, asserting that the law does not align with European Union and NATO norms.

"I am disappointed by the anti-democratic actions of the Georgian government, exemplified by the Kremlin-style foreign influence law and false statements by officials from the Georgian government, which does not meet the norms of membership in the European Union and NATO," the letter, which Zourabichvili published on Facebook, reads.

Despite this criticism, Biden reaffirmed the U.S. commitment to Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration and emphasized the importance of shared values such as peace, stability, freedom, and human rights.

The new law mandates that non-governmental organizations and media outlets receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad must report their income and expenditures annually to the Ministry of Justice. Failure to comply results in a fine of 25,000 GEL (over $9,100), with additional monthly penalties of 20,000 GEL (over $7,300) for ongoing delays in submission.