• Ar
  • Es
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Feature
  • Videos
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Feature
Videos
Infographs
In Pictures
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Europe
  4. Moscow refers to 1938 US law as EU slams Georgian draft law
Europe

Moscow refers to 1938 US law as EU slams Georgian draft law

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 8 Mar 15:31
  • 2 Shares

Russia's Foreign Ministry spokesperson accuses the EU of double standards, citing a US 1938 law in response to the EU's criticism of a similar draft law in Georgia.

  • Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova attends Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. (AP)
    Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova attends Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's annual news conference in Moscow, Russia, Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023. (AP)

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday that the United States has had a law since 1938, mandating the registration of entities lobbying foreign interests, commenting on the European Union's criticism of a similar draft law in Georgia.
 
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said earlier in the week that Georgia's controversial draft law on foreign agents was incompatible with EU values, contradicting the country's goal to join the European Union. 

Anti government protests in Tbilisi, Georgia … The country is not joining the anti Russian coalition and introduces laws, to regulate foreign agents.
-> Protests … we know the drill pic.twitter.com/xaDLnpD1ur

— Lord Bebo (@MyLordBebo) March 7, 2023

Zakharova wrote on Telegram that "it is now clear why the US is still not in the EU. There, this law [on foreign agents] has been in effect since 1938."
 
Georgia's parliament adopted a bill on Transparency of Foreign Influence on Tuesday, by a majority vote in the first reading in a 76-13 vote. 

Read next: Georgia responds to Ukrainian call to attack Russia

A list of individuals and entities receiving foreign financing would be created under the law. This sparked widespread protests and concerns among the opposition, who are concerned that it will allow the government to suppress the work of non-governmental organizations and activists in the country. Meanwhile, the government maintains that this is intended to limit foreign meddling in Georgian politics.

Protesters in Tbilisi have reached the steps of the parliament building. Situation is derailing.

Reason for the protest is a law which is a copy of the Russian “foreign agent” law and which is basically a wild card to discredit any opposition. #Georgia pic.twitter.com/nUWZ50JaMm

— (((Tendar))) (@Tendar) March 7, 2023

Following the announcement of voting results in Georgia's parliament on Tuesday, clashes erupted near the parliament building between special forces and demonstrators who had gathered earlier in the day to protest the bill, injuring several law enforcement officers and protesters.

The United States Foreign Agents Registration Act, enacted in 1938, requires any individual or entity who becomes an "agent of a foreign principal" to disclose their affiliations, related activities, and finances, with penalties for violations.

Read next: Russian tourists welcome, sanction requests are not: Georgia

  • Maria Zakharova
  • Moscow
  • Russia
  • Georgia
  • European Union

Trending Now

All
Russia creates humanitarian corridor for exit of foreign ships

Russia creates humanitarian corridor for exit of foreign ships

Most Read

Indonesian president Joko Widodo during an interview in Jakarta in 2016 (Reuters)

Widodo urges Indonesia to abandon Visa, MasterCard to be 'independent'

  • Asia
  • 16 Mar
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen listens to opening remarks before testifying before the Senate Finance Committee about the President's proposed budget request for the fiscal year 2024, Thursday, March 16, 2023, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP)

US Debt ceiling ‘must be raised’ ahead of default: Treasury Secretary

  • US & Canada
  • 16 Mar
The Desert of the Real; Russia's SMO a year later

The Desert of the Real; Russia's SMO a year later

  • Europe
  • 14 Mar
Rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

Peace rallies held in Washington DC to protest US militarism

  • US & Canada
  • 18 Mar

Read this

All
20 years on, US-led Iraq War atrocities revealed in numbers
MENA

20 years on, US-led Iraq War atrocities revealed in numbers

  • 20 Mar
People walk past rubble of damaged buildings, in the aftermath of the earthquake, in Aleppo, Syria February 7, 2023. (Reuters)
MENA

Donors pledge €7bln as quake aid for Turkey, Syria, fall vastly short

  • 20 Mar
so maliuhhhh
Africa

Somalia to record 135 deaths a day due to drought: UN study

  • Today
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene at Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, US in April 2022 (AP)
US & Canada

20% of Americans agree with Greene's 'national divorce' between states

  • 20 Mar
Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS