Despite widespread protests and international opposition, Georgia has enacted the contentious “foreign agent” law. Georgian parliament speaker Shalva Papuashvili signed the bill, officially titled “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”, which was published on the country’s Legislative Bulletin website.
This legislation mandates the creation of a register of foreign agents, encompassing media and non-profit organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. Critics argue it mirrors Russia’s law on foreign agents, potentially providing the government tools to suppress civil society and independent media. Following initial rejection due to massive demonstrations in 2023, the bill resurfaced in 2024, sparking further protests, especially in Tbilisi.
On May 14, the bill was approved by parliament but was vetoed by President Salome Zurabishvili. Nonetheless, the Georgian parliament overrode the veto on May 28, allowing the controversial law to come into effect.
Several non-governmental organizations expressed their refusal to comply with the new legislation. Global human rights entities and election observers have urged European authorities to reconsider Georgia’s EU integration, claiming the law threatens civil liberties and autonomous journalism. The United States has also publicly denounced Georgia’s parliament for overriding the presidential veto, emphasizing concerns over democratic integrity.
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