The US Department of State welcomed the withdrawal of the Transparency of Foreign Influence bill and urged the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party to officially retract this bill and not to further this type of legislation.

According to the US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price, the draft law is incompatible with Georgian and Euro-Atlantic values and the protection of fundamental freedoms.

“It’s very clear that the Georgian people have once again spoken clearly that the only choice for Georgia is a secure and prosperous European future. We – while we welcome the decision to withdraw the draft law on, quote/unquote, ‘foreign influence,’ we urge the ruling party to officially retract this bill and not to further this type of legislation, precisely because it’s incompatible with Georgian and Euro-Atlantic values and the protection of fundamental freedoms.

We encourage Georgia’s political leaders to work together in earnest on the reforms urgently needed to obtain the EU candidate status that Georgia’s citizens overwhelmingly desire,” said Ned Price.

The parliamentary majority on Thursday decided to withdraw the Transparency of Foreign Influence bill following the consultations between the ruling Georgian Dream political council and People’s Power parliamentary faction.