'Foreign Agents' Law Comes into Force
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, August 1, 2024
Starting August 1, 2024, all non-governmental and media organizations in Georgia receiving more than 20% of their income from abroad must register with the National Public Registry Agency as foreign agents. This requirement is part of the new, controversial 'Foreign Agents' Law, which according to the Georgian Dream party, aims to ensure transparency regarding foreign funding.
The law mandates that organisations provide detailed information during registration, including the source, amount, and purpose of any foreign funds or material goods received in the previous year. Additionally, they must disclose how these funds were spent over the same period.
To support the enforcement of this law, the Ministry of Justice has established the Department of Financial Declaration within the National Public Registry Agency. This department is responsible for maintaining the register of foreign agents, ensuring transparency, and aiding the Ministry in enforcing the law.
The law grants the Ministry of Justice the authority to conduct research and monitoring on organizations suspected of serving foreign interests at any time. Organisations that fail to register or do not submit the required declarations will face substantial fines. The penalty for avoiding registration is 25,000 GEL. Further fines include:
- 10,000 GEL if the organization does not fill out the application form within 10 working days after it is posted on the Ministry of Justice website.
- 10,000 GEL for not correcting defects in the documents within the specified period.
- 20,000 GEL for committing a legal offense after one month.
This legislation has caused a series of protests among Georgians, drawing significant controversy and criticism. International partners have repeatedly called on the Georgian government to withdraw the law, expressing concerns that it may stifle civil society and media freedom. Despite these calls, the government has moved forward with its implementation, arguing that the law is necessary to ensure transparency and accountability regarding foreign influence in the country.
