Following the entry into force of a controversial law limiting foreign influence on non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Georgia, Washington announced bans on the entry into the country of deputies from the Georgian ruling party, reported DPA, quoted by BTA.
Initially, the sanctions affect between two and three dozen people, including members of parliament from the ruling Georgian Dream party. and members of their families, said US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
If Georgia does not change the law against which mass protests have been held for months, new sanctions may follow.
The law, which was signed by the Speaker of Parliament on Monday, imposes stricter accountability on independent media and other civil society organizations if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad.
Critics fear that this will make critical media coverage more difficult and that, as in Russia, independent organizations will be blocked and silenced.
The governing party "Georgian Dream“ justifies the law with greater transparency, claiming that it strengthens Georgia's sovereignty.
Miller characterized the law and the actions of the Georgian government as anti-democratic. This action threatens the European future of Georgia and is against the Georgian constitution and the wishes of the people, he said.