PACE Co-rapporteurs Call for Repeal of Georgia's 'Foreign Agents' Law
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, May 23, 2024
Following the publication of the Venice Commission's urgent opinion on "Foreign Agents" law, the PACE co-rapporteurs for Georgia, Claude Kern and Edite Estrela, have urged the Georgian authorities to repeal this law.
"Our Georgian counterparts have asked us for authoritative legal arguments with regard to our concerns about the law on transparency of foreign influence. These arguments have now been delivered in the univocal opinion by the Venice Commission that was requested by the President of the Assembly. We therefore urge the ruling majority not to override the Presidential veto and to repeal this law, as recommended by the Venice Commission," said the co-rapporteurs.
They emphasized the importance of the Venice Commission's opinion in providing legal clarity and guidance. Kern and Estrela stated:
"Our Georgian counterparts have asked us for authoritative legal arguments with regard to our concerns about the law on transparency of foreign influence. These arguments have now been delivered in the univocal opinion by the Venice Commission that was requested by the President of the Assembly."
The Venice Commission's opinion highlighted that Georgia already possesses a comprehensive legal framework to regulate the funding and transparency of NGOs and the media. The co-rapporteurs emphasized that:
"As outlined in the Venice Commission opinion, Georgia already has a comprehensive legal framework to regulate the funding and transparency of NGOs and the media."
They suggested that instead of introducing new legislation, the authorities could focus on strengthening the existing legal framework in close cooperation with the Council of Europe.
"In the view of the co-rapporteurs, the authorities could focus on strengthening the existing legal framework, if there is an objective need for it, in close co-operation with the Council of Europe."
Moreover, they reiterated their readiness to continue the dialogue with the Georgian authorities and society on this subject within the ongoing monitoring procedure for Georgia:
"We remain ready to continue our dialogue with the Georgian authorities and society on this subject in the framework of the ongoing monitoring procedure for Georgia."
In light of the ongoing challenges to democracy in Georgia, the Assembly is set to hold a current affairs debate during its Standing Committee meeting in Vilnius on May 24, 2024.
