The US imposed sanctions against Georgia

The United States is introducing visa restrictions against dozens of Georgian citizens believed to be involved in human rights violations, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a briefing. The sanctions included members of the country's parliament and their families.

Miller recalled the new policy of visa restrictions regarding Georgia announced by Secretary of State Antony Blinken, including due to the law on foreign agents.

“The first list of visa restrictions includes members of the Georgian Dream party, members of parliament, law enforcement officers and ordinary citizens,” a State Department spokesman said.

The United States holds them responsible for suppressing democracy and freedom of assembly and for violently dispersing peaceful protesters. According to him, Washington expects that the Georgian leadership will reconsider its steps and return to its “stated democratic and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” otherwise the United States will take additional measures.

In May, the Georgian parliament adopted a law on foreign agents, which provoked mass protests in the country and clashes with security forces. On June 3, Speaker Shalva Papuashvili announced that he had signed the document, despite the previously vetoed by President Salome Zurabishvili.

According to the law, non-governmental organizations and media outlets that receive foreign funding exceeding 20% ​​of their annual income will be required to register as “organizations serving the interests of a foreign power.”

They will need to fill out an annual financial declaration, and those who evade registration as a “foreign agent” or fail to submit a declaration face a fine of up to 25 thousand lari (about $9 thousand).

In early June, a package of bills “On the Protection of Family Values ​​and Minors” was submitted to the Georgian Parliament, which, in particular, involves a ban on the registration of same-sex marriages and on “LGBT propaganda” in educational institutions, advertising and the media. All these initiatives were criticized by Western countries, including the United States.