UN Human Rights Chief Volker Türk has expressed concern that Georgia’s recently accepted foreign agents legislation threatens the freedoms of expression and association, according to a statement he issued last Wednesday.
Türk expressed reservations about the possible repercussions resulting from this bill’s endorsement by the President of Georgia. He stated, “The capacity of associations to pursue, secure, and employ resources is critical to their effective functioning. This excessively wide law risks such organizations being categorized and stigmatized, leading to an environment of suspicion, fear, and hostility.”
The contentious bill mandates any non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from overseas register as entities “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” Türk fears that this will hinder and restrict the rights of freedom of expression and association in Georgia. This issue is of particular concern given that Georgian lawmakers have allegedly disregarded warnings from human rights advocates and civil society groups. Considering that the same bill was withdrawn in March 2023, such concerns are heightened as government officials and parliamentarians had assured UN agencies that the draft would not be reintroduced.
Titled the “Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence,” the foreign agents bill still requires the signature of Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili. The president has committed to veto the legislation during a CNN broadcast. Nevertheless, the dominant party possesses the majority in parliament and can overturn the president’s veto to put the statute into effect.