“The only foreign agents that are involved in this are those in the ruling party who copy Russian laws and are promoting the way Russia rules at home,” the MEP Michael Gahler expressed concerns about the draft law on “transparency of foreign influence” during a debate on Georgia at the European Parliament.

As Gahler noted Mikheil Saakashvili  [Georgia’s jailed ex-president] should be released and sanctions should be imposed on Bidzina Ivanishvili [ GD Honorary Chair].

“Well, actually my impression is if it is about foreign agents, the only foreign agents that are involved in this are those in the ruling party who copy Russian laws and are promoting the way Russia rules at home, and perhaps even on behalf of that. And if I look at Prime Minister Kobakhidze some time ago, they were still with the SND group and were there complimented out for the right reasons. But in the meanwhile, he will be going to Budapest to a very right-wing conference and appear there as a speaker. So I really wonder where this country is heading for and where this ruling party is heading for. We support the will of the people. We are fully solidaric with those protesters with Georgian and European flags. And apart from that, we once again also support the people. Demand the release of Misha Saakashvili and also to see to it that we can get hold of Mr Ivanishvili and sanction him because he is the one in the background who is actually guiding the agenda there,” the MEP Michael Gahler declared.