Tightening of laws on foreign agents becomes a threat to civil society in Georgia

The draft law “On the registration of foreign agents” and amendments to the Law “On Broadcasting” will deprive non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media of the opportunity to continue their activities even under other organizational forms, analysts state.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on May 14, 2024, amid mass protests, the Georgian parliament adopted the draft law “On the transparency of foreign influence”. On March 4, the Georgian parliament also adopted in the first reading the draft law on the registration of foreign agents, which introduces the concept of an individual as a foreign agent.

Nino Djangirashvili, the general director of the “Caucasia” TV Company, TV Companies are currently not subject to the law on foreign agents, but the Georgian parliament is already considering a draft amendment to the Law “On Broadcasting”, which will prohibit TV Companies from receiving foreign funding.

The general director of the “Caucasia” TV Company has noted that during the recent two years, the country’s authorities have been tightening repression against journalists and that all journalists are under threat of arrest. Now they can be fined for any phrase said on air.

The new draft law on foreign agents will limit the activities of non-governmental organizations, notes Kakha Gogolashvili, an analyst at the “Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies”.

According to the Kakha Gogolashvili’s version, the draft law may also affect journalists as individuals, since the media is the most active part of civil society. In addition, the draft law may also affect experts who receive payment for the services they provide, and in the future, even recipients of private money transfers from other countries.

How widely will the new law be used to suppress civil society? It depends on the will of Bidzina Ivanishvili, the founder of the ruling “Georgian Dream-Democratic Movement” Party, the informal ruler of the country. This opinion has been voiced by David Darchiashvili, a former member of the Georgian parliament. “Development of the events depends on the situation in the region and country’s relations with the United States,” David Darchiashvili noted.