The FINANCIAL — The ruling Georgian Dream party reintroduced into the Parliament on 2 April a proposed “foreign agents” law. The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) joins its Georgian affiliate, the Independent Association of Georgian Journalists (IAGJ) in condemning any attempt by the Georgian government to reintroduce the draft legislation on foreign agents or foreign influence. This bill is incompatible with international human rights law and standards that protect the rights to freedom of expression and association.
The bill “on transparency of foreign influence” would require non-profit organisations and media outlets receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to be registered and provide detailed annual financial accounts. Organisations that fail to register or to provide such data would be subject to fines of 8,500 EUR. A statement published on the Georgian Dream Facebook page said the bill is largely identical to the bill dropped in March 2023 following widespread protests.
The only change is that the term “agent of foreign influence” has been replaced by that of “organisation pursuing the interests of a foreign power”. The party, which controls a parliamentary majority large enough to override the President, who previously said she would veto it, vowed in its statement to pass the law by the end of the current parliamentary session in June 2024.
“Since Russian invasion of Ukraine, Georgia became another target for Russian war propaganda,” said IAGJ President Zviad Pochkhua.
“Since Russian invasion of Ukraine, Georgia became another target for Russian war propaganda,” said IAGJ President Zviad Pochkhua. “While Russian state media channels remain accessible for Georgia’s population, especially in regions, very few Georgian channels have the same resources of reach a wide audience. Independent media play crucial role in limiting distribution of Russian propaganda. Creating additional obstacles to independent media will allow Russia to plant more war propaganda and hate.”
“The Georgian ‘foreign agent’ bill seek to discredit independent media that serve the public interest,” said EFJ President Maja Sever. “It aims to restrict critical media and individuals working to protect democracy and the rule of law. We call on the Georgian Parliament to reject any measure restricting freedom of expression and association”.
Washington Concerned Over Georgia ‘Foreign Agents’ Bill
The United States expressed concern Friday after Georgia’s ruling party resubmitted a proposal that critics say is aimed at crushing dissent and which triggered mass demonstrations last year, AFP reported.
“We are deeply concerned by the introduction of legislation in the Georgian parliament based on last year’s draft ‘foreign agents’ law,” State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said in a statement.
“The draft legislation poses a threat to civil society organizations,” he said. “It undermines Georgia’s commitment to Euro-Atlantic integration.”
The ruling Georgian Dream party said on Wednesday it would reintroduce the bill, which resembles Russia’s “foreign agent” law that has been used to silence dissent under President Vladimir Putin.
The proposal — denounced by the European Union, which Tbilisi aspires to join — would target NGOs, media organizations and individual journalists who receive foreign funding.
Georgian Dream said these groups would have to register as an “organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”
The party had dropped the bill last year under pressure from tens of thousands of protesters in Tbilisi.
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