Georgia's ‘foreign agent’ law riles EU, Kremlin welcomes it
The European Union has expressed concern about the revival of a piece of legislation, known as the “foreign agent” law, in Georgia that deals with organizations that receive funding from abroad.
The legislation would require organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from overseas to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”
The legislation, which Georgian critics have labeled the “Russian law,” was dropped in 2023.
“I am concerned with the revival of the draft legislation on 'transparency of foreign influence' in the Parliament of Georgia,” Council of Europe Secretary-General Marija Pejcinovic Buric said on Thursday.
“Last year, alongside many friends of Georgia, I welcomed the withdrawal of this legislative proposal. I reiterate today that constructive dialogue and upholding of our standards remain key,” she said.
The EU has encouraged Georgian authorities to adopt and implement reforms that are in line with the stated objective of joining the European Union.
Georgia was granted the EU membership candidacy on the understanding that it would implement the steps defined by the European Commission.
In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters the critics of the draft law “need to more actively explain the absurdity of considering this a Russian project.”
Peskov said Russia defends the bill because it roots for Georgia's “stability and predictability.”
“No state wants interference from other countries in domestic politics; this is normal practice,” he said.
Anti-government critics of the law in Georgia have said any attempt to move forward with the bill will be met with mass protests, similar to the disturbances that forced the legislation’s withdrawal in 2023.
“With all the available means, we will confront yet another serious attempt to Russify Georgia,” anti-government groups that organized the 2023 protests threatened in a joint statement.
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