23:18, 4 March 2025

Georgian Parliament tightens foreign agents law

The Georgian Parliament. Photo: "Novosti Gruzii" (News in Georgia) https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/centrizbirkom-gruzii-raspredelil-mesta-v-parlamente-po-itogam-vyborov/

The "Law on Registration of Foreign Agents", which introduces the notion of an individual-a foreign agent, was supported in the first reading by 84 Georgian MPs. The new bill is a literal copy of the American law, which provides for criminal liability for violating the requirements.

On May 14, 2024, amid mass protests, the Georgian Parliament adopted the bill "On Transparency of Foreign Influence". According to the country’s Ombudsperson, more than 200 people were detained; more than half of them complained about improper treatment by law enforcers.

Oppositionists treat it as the "Russian law", seeing it as a threat to Georgia's European development path. The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "The Main Requirements of the Law of Georgia ‘On Transparency of Foreign Influence’".

As reported by the "Interpressnews", according to the law, criminal liability will be established for evading registration as a foreign agent and for failure to comply with the requirements of the bill.

According to Archil Gorduladze, Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Legal Issues, it is important for Georgia to have the same levers of influence provided for by its legislation as the United States. He has noted that along with the American people, the Georgian people also have the right to strengthen their sovereignty.

"While the ‘transparency law’ concerns only NGOs, organizations, online media and broadcasters, the American law also affects individuals. An individual can be both a foreign force and an agent," the “Netgazeti” outlet quotes Mr Gorduladze as saying.

The FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act), which is in effect in the United States for violating requirements for the activities of foreign agents, provides for a fine or a prison term of up to five years.

This article was originally published on the Russian page of 24/7 Internet agency ‘Caucasian Knot’ on March 4, 2025 at 07:10 pm MSK. To access the full text of the article, click here.

Source: Caucasian Knot