"Imposing sanctions on the people's elected deputies for adopting a law is unprecedented and ridiculous," the parliamentary majority leader, Mamuka Mdinaradze, wrote on the social network Facebook, referring to the statements by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken.

Blinken had announced visa restrictions for those responsible for the law and the crackdown on protests against it, arguing that they are "undermining" Georgia's democracy.

"The country's independence is not exchanged for visas," Mdinaradze said, denouncing that "the policy of blackmail and threats continues so that Georgia does not make independent decisions, which respond to its own interests."

Regarding the possibility that the sanctions could be extended to the relatives of the sanctioned persons, the official recalled that "even the Soviet Union, in its time, decided not to extend the responsibilities to family members."

"Georgians will never abandon their homeland, their language, their creed, their traditions, their values, their justice, and thus become full members of the European family," he said.

The deputy stressed that, despite the sanctions, the United States will have to dialogue "with the Georgian people and with the authorities elected by them and not with those appointed from abroad," arguing that it is something that Georgia "can achieve."

According to the same source, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobajidze received threats that he could have the same fate as his Slovak counterpart, Fobert Fico, who was the target of an attack nine days ago.

Mdinaradze argued that France has already passed a similar law and Turkey is considering the same, also stating that the "US Secretary of State announces sanctions for supporting a law that is much milder than the one that exists" in the United States.

Dmitri Jundadze, a deputy from the Popular Force movement, aligned with the ruling Georgian Dream party, told the press that "the Georgian parliament will override President Salome Zurabishvili's veto on May 28," after which the law "will come into force."

The United States will reassess cooperation with Georgia after the Georgian parliament adopted a law on "foreign influence," which has been the target of criticism and massive protests, said the head of US diplomacy.

Antony Blinken also announced visa restrictions for staying in the United States for people considered responsible for "undermining democracy" in Georgia, as well as their family members.

In addition to the law itself, Blinken warned that "the repressive tactics used to suppress legitimate dissent undermine Georgian democracy and the fundamental freedoms to which the Georgian people are entitled."

The law in question requires any non-governmental organization or media outlet that receives more than 20% of its funding from abroad to register as an "organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power" and to submit to administrative control.

Under the presidency of Vladimir Putin, Russia has used a similar law to persecute and outlaw civil society organizations and independent media, which have been virtually extinct since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

A former Soviet republic, Georgia has been an official candidate for EU membership since December 2023.

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