The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe calls on the political factions of the Parliament of Georgia not to support the draft law initiated by anti-western political party “People’s Power”, which wants to force independent media and civil organizations to register in the registr yof “agents of foreign influence”.
“We call on all other political factions of Georgia – do not support this draft law, which, if adopted, will have a devastating effect,” reads PACE statement on Twitter.
We urge all other political factions in Georgia not to support this draft law that would have a chilling effect if adopted, they underlined.
— PACE (@PACE_News) February 16, 2023
Representatives of the “People’s Power” faction, formed by the deputies who left “Georgian Dream” but remained in the parliamentary majority, announced on 14 February that they have drafted a bill on the activities of foreign-funded organizations and would officially register it in parliament in the next few days.
According to the draft law, the following are considered foreign powers:
- Agencies of foreign governments;
- Individuals who are not citizens of Georgia;
- Legal entities that are not established based on Georgian legislation;
- Organizations (including a foundation, association, company, union, etc.) or other associations of individuals established under the law of a foreign state and/or under international law.
By Ana Dumbadze
