Georgia’s Constitutional Court has begun considering claims against ‘foreign agents’ law Reporting Georgian news portal.

The appeals were consolidated into one proceeding by Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili, more than a hundred non-governmental organizations, 38 opposition members of the Georgian parliament, and two media organizations specializing in investigative journalism.

All plaintiffs said that the law conflicts with several provisions of the Georgian Constitution, causes “stigmatization” of civil organizations and mass media, interferes with their work and could lead to their dissolution.

The publication clarified that the plaintiffs also requested a stay on the law until a final decision is made.

Foreign Influence Transparency Act. Public demonstrations Although the Georgian Parliament in May AcceptedThe ruling party succeeded in approving the document on its second attempt.

The document stipulates that non-governmental organizations and mass media with more than 20% of their funding coming from abroad are obliged to register in the state register as “organizations serving foreign interests.”

The Georgian Ministry of Justice has launched the registration process for non-governmental organizations and mass media that receive foreign funding in the Register of Organizations Representing Foreign State Interests. According to Georgia News, the application phase will last until the end of August, and those who fail to pass will be fined 25,000 GEL (more than $9,000).

  • Opposition representatives and local media referred to the document as the “Foreign Agents Law” because of its similarity to Russia’s Foreign Agents Law. They said the bill sought to silence critical voices in Georgia and undermine the country’s chances of joining the European Union. Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili vetoed the bill, but parliament passed it by a majority vote. Cancel It worked.
  • The bill also drew negative reactions from the United States and the European Union. In June, after the law was passed, the United States imposed visa restrictions on dozens of Georgian citizens, including members of the Georgian parliament and security personnel. Previously introducedIn July, the EU announced the suspension of Georgia’s EU candidate country status. Stopped.