Another law on foreign agents adopted in Georgia
1 April 14:08
The Georgian parliament has passed in the final, third reading a law on the registration of “foreign agents,” which is called an analog of the US FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act). It was submitted by the government’s Georgian Dream party.
This was reported by Echo of the Caucasus (a project of Radio Liberty), Komersant ukrainskyi reports.
86 deputies voted for the law, while none spoke against it. According to the law, non-profit organizations, media, and private companies will be recognized as “foreign agents” if more than 20% of their funding comes from foreign sources.
In addition, businesses, journalists, and even advertising agents who work directly or indirectly for foreign organizations will be considered foreign agents.
All of them will now have to register their activities. The Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgia will monitor compliance with the law. And for its violation, legal entities will receive a fine of 10 thousand GEL (about 150 thousand hryvnias), and individuals – either a fine of the same amount or imprisonment for up to 5 years.
In addition, today the Georgian parliament also voted in favor of amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, which introduced a complete ban on foreign funding for the media and tightened control over journalistic activities, including work with sources, and punishment for violations.
What is known about the law on “foreign agents”?
on June 3, 2024, the law on “foreign agents” officially came into force in Georgia, which was compared to the same law adopted in Russia. It was signed by the speaker of the country’s parliament, thus bypassing the veto of the then President Salome Zurabishvili.
The law declares non-governmental and media organizations with more than 20% of their income coming from abroad to be organizations representing the interests of a foreign state. They must be registered in a special register and fill out a financial declaration every year. Otherwise, they will be fined 25,000 GEL (about 7,850 euros) the first time they do so.
For weeks, thousands of people protested against the adoption of this document. Critics of the bill consider it similar to the Russian bill, which the Kremlin uses to suppress freedom of speech in its country. Georgia’s ruling party claims that they have nothing in common.
After the adoption of the law on “foreign agents,” the United States imposed sanctions against the ruling Georgian Dream party, noting that it undermined democracy in Georgia.
