The Georgian parliament passed the third reading of the "Foreign Agents Registration Act," with all present deputies of the ruling party voting "for," and no one voting "against," as opposition parties boycotted the vote, writes "Caucasian Knot"*.
Last spring, despite mass protests, the authorities already adopted the "Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence," which required NGOs and media receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register with the Ministry of Justice, but most did not do so. The new law provides for imprisonment of up to five years for those who refused to register, and it also applies to ordinary citizens.
The ruling "Georgian Dream," which initiated the project, considers it analogous to the American FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act), while human rights activists call it a "Russian law in new packaging," which, unlike the American one, targets the civil sector and independent media. More than 100 organizations have issued a joint statement against the tightening of legislation.
"The bill violates fundamental human rights norms and, if adopted, will cause serious damage to Georgia's civil society and further exacerbate the human rights crisis that the authorities have provoked in recent months," says Human Rights Watch.
Parliamentarians also adopted amendments to the "Broadcasting" law, which prohibit television companies from receiving foreign funding. A ban is introduced on broadcasters receiving direct or indirect funding—in the form of money or any other material benefit with property ownership. A ban is also introduced on foreign forces acquiring broadcaster services (except for placing commercial advertising or products) or direct or indirect funding or co-financing of the preparation of a television program or its broadcast.
These measures will deprive non-governmental organizations and media of the opportunity to continue working even under other organizational forms, said analysts interviewed by "Caucasian Knot."
Additionally, the Georgian parliament, with the efforts of the ruling "Georgian Dream," excluded the concept of "gender" from 15 existing laws, canceled the mandatory participation of non-governmental organizations in the legislative process, and returned the article "treason" to the Criminal Code instead of the concept of "state treason."
* Recognized in Russia as a "foreign agent."
Photo: Guram Muradov/Civil.ge