Georgia enacts controversial foreign agents law
Georgia enacts controversial foreign agents law (Getty Images)
The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, signed the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence. According to the law, the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Finance of the country have the right to demand information without a court and impose fines on organizations at their discretion, according to Ekho Kavkaza and NewsGeorgia.
According to the new law, within two months (by early August), the relevant authorities and officials must adopt and publish bylaws.
The Ministry of Justice of Georgia and the National Agency of Public Registry must take "preliminary logistical and other measures to implement this law."
According to preliminary information, starting in August, media outlets and NGOs that received more than 20% of their income from abroad in 2023 will have to apply for registration as organizations that promote "the interests of a foreign power" through the House of Justice within a month. Otherwise, they will be subject to fines.
In order to identify organizations that "pursue the interests of a foreign power" and verify compliance with the law, the Ministry of Justice can conduct monitoring at any time, and an authorized official can obtain the necessary information, including personal data.
The law on foreign agents has now been published on the website of the Legislative Herald of Georgia. The document, signed by Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili, has partially entered into force.
Background
On May 28, the Georgian parliament overrode President Salome Zourabichvili's veto of the law on foreign agents.
The pro-Russian ruling Georgian Dream party submitted this initiative to the Georgian parliament. It provides for leverage over organizations that receive funding from abroad.
After the parliament overrode the veto, the law was passed.
EU is already preparing a response after the Georgian parliament overrode the veto and passed the law on foreign agents.
