The foreign ministers of France, Germany, and Poland have issued a joint statement criticizing newly adopted legislative amendments in Georgia related to foreign funding and political activity, warning that the measures undermine democratic freedoms and violate commitments made to the European Union.
The statement, released by the ministers representing the Weimar Triangle — a political cooperation format between the three countries — expresses concern over legislation adopted by the Georgian Parliament on March 4, which they say reflects an increasingly repressive approach toward civil society.
“We, the foreign ministers of the Weimar Triangle, regret the adoption by the Georgian Parliament on March 4 of new legislation on foreign funding and political activities, which confirms the Georgian authorities’ increasingly repressive approach toward civil society,” the ministers said.
The ministers voiced full support for a March 6 statement by the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, stressing that the amendments significantly expand state control over political and public activities in Georgia.
According to the statement, the new rules risk undermining freedom of association and expression, weakening the rule of law, and placing additional pressure on independent civil society organizations, including independent media outlets, human rights defenders, experts, and service providers.
“With these new regulations, the Georgian authorities are deliberately breaching Georgia’s commitments toward the European Union, particularly under the EU–Georgia Association Agreement,” the ministers said.
They also noted that the Georgian government’s political course since 2024 has effectively led to the suspension of the country’s EU accession process — a development referenced in the European Council’s 2024 conclusions and reaffirmed in the European Commission’s 2025 Enlargement Report.
The ministers reiterated their “unwavering support for the Georgian people and civil society organizations working tirelessly for Georgia’s democratic and European future,” while also reaffirming support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.
On March 4, Georgia’s ruling party Georgian Dream approved a package of legislative amendments in a third reading. Civil society groups and several international partners have criticized the changes as repressive.
The amendments primarily modify the Law on Grants and introduce several controversial provisions.
One of the new provisions criminalizes actions or rhetoric that may be interpreted as “systematic non-recognition of state institutions” or the “establishment of a perception of illegitimacy.”
Critics argue that the wording is vague and could allow authorities to prosecute opposition figures or activists for sharply criticizing the government or questioning the legitimacy of state institutions.
The legislation significantly broadens the definition of a grant. Under the amendments, any financial or material resource received from abroad by a person who influences public opinion may be classified as a grant.
Receiving such funding will now require prior approval from the Georgian government.
Violating the new rules may result in fines or prison sentences of up to six years, and in aggravated circumstances up to 12 years in prison.
The law also introduces restrictions on political participation. Employees of organizations whose funding is more than 20% foreign-sourced will be barred from joining political parties for eight years.
Critics say the measure directly restricts the political rights of individuals working in the civil society sector.
Image: Netgazeti
