Georgia calls on revitalizing relations with US amid controversy over foreign influence law

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze expressed his interest and desire to revitalize Georgian-American relations, stating, "we are ready for this and are waiting for counter steps from the American side"

His remarks were reported by Interfax.

Kobakhidze highlighted the importance of US military assistance to Georgia, noting, "US military assistance is important for us, but the development of cooperation in the military sphere is equally important for both Georgia and the US".

He emphasized the need for pragmatic actions from all sides.

Addressing recent statements from Washington regarding the potential suspension of annual US financial aid to Georgia due to the adoption of the Foreign Influence Transparency Act, Kobakhidze indicated a deeper context. He mentioned that former US Ambassador Ian Kelly told him that US financial aid to Georgia primarily supports non-governmental organizations (NGOs). "When it comes to funding non-governmental organizations, I would not call it assistance by the state," Kobakhidze said.

The controversial law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" was adopted by the Georgian Parliament on May 14. President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed the law on May 18, but the parliament overrode the veto on May 28. Subsequently, on June 3, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili signed the law into force after President Zurabishvili refused to sign it.

From its initiation in parliament in April by the ruling Georgian Dream party, the law faced severe backlash from opposition forces, who argued it aims to "stigmatize" NGOs outside government control and free media. Both the EU and the United States urged Georgian authorities to withdraw the law, warning that its adoption could hinder Georgia's path to EU membership.