The proposed changes mark a further escalation of the Georgian authorities’ efforts to sharply restrict the country’s civil and democratic space, Anouar El Anouni, EU spokesperson for foreign affairs and security policy, said in response to a question from Euroscope.

The question was about a meeting held by the EU Ambassador to Georgia, Pawel Herczynski, at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and also about what steps the EU will take if the recent legislative amendments initiated by the Georgian Dream are adopted.

“The EU Ambassador raised the EU’s concerns directly with the Georgian authorities. If these measures are taken, they will further suppress basic democratic freedoms. This legislation contradicts fundamental rights, European and international standards. This will be yet another demonstration that the Georgian authorities are turning their back on the country’s EU path, which is clearly contrary to the promises made to the Georgian people. As for us, the EU, we will always continue to stand by the Georgian people, and the Georgian authorities must revert back to the democratic path. In terms of sanctions, we have been consistent in our response and all options remain on the table. We have downgraded our political contacts, stopped assistance benefiting the Georgian authorities and suspended visa-free travel for Georgian diplomats, officials and their families,” the spokesperson noted.

For information, the EU Ambassador to Georgia met with the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Georgia, Giorgi Zurabishvili. According to the EU Delegation to Georgia, the purpose of the meeting was to express the EU’s “serious concerns” about the recently submitted package of amendments to the Law on Grants and related legislative acts. According to the press release, the EU Ambassador noted that if approved, the amendments could directly and negatively affect the work of diplomatic missions operating in Georgia.