Georgian law on "foreign influence"

Motion for a resolution | Doc. 16022 | 03 July 2024

Signatories:

Mr Markus WIECHEL, Sweden, EC/DA ; Ms Boriana ÅBERG, Sweden, EPP/CD ; Mr Levan BEZHASHVILI, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Lord David BLENCATHRA, United Kingdom, EC/DA ; Mr Christophe BRICO, Monaco, EPP/CD ; Ms Rasa BUDBERGYTĖ, Lithuania, SOC ; Ms Natalia DAVIDOVICI, Republic of Moldova, EPP/CD ; Mr Oleksii GONCHARENKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Mr Serhii KALCHENKO, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Mr Yuriy KAMELCHUK, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Norbert KLEINWÄCHTER, Germany, EC/DA ; Mr Christophe LACROIX, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Simon MOUTQUIN, Belgium, SOC ; Mr Arkadiusz MULARCZYK, Poland, EC/DA ; Mr Dmytro NATALUKHA, Ukraine, EC/DA ; Mr Andrew PERCY, United Kingdom, EC/DA ; Mr Christian PETRY, Germany, SOC ; Ms Valérie PILLER CARRARD, Switzerland, SOC ; Mr Gonzalo ROBLES, Spain, EPP/CD ; Lord Simon RUSSELL, United Kingdom, EC/DA ; Mr Lukas SAVICKAS, Lithuania, SOC ; Mr David SMOLJAK, Czechia, EPP/CD ; Ms Ana TSITLIDZE, Georgia, EPP/CD ; Ms Ketevan TURAZASHVILI, Georgia, NR ; Ms Susanna VELA, Andorra, SOC ; Ms Yelyzaveta YASKO, Ukraine, EPP/CD ; Mr Emanuelis ZINGERIS, Lithuania, EPP/CD

This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.

In its Resolution 2561 (2024) “Challenges to democracy in Georgia”, the Parliamentary Assembly expressed its concern about the law on “foreign influence” adopted by the Parliament of Georgia on the proposal of the Georgian Dream governing party and called for its repeal in its entirety without any delay.

This law would oblige non-governmental organisations and media to register as “agents of foreign influence” if they are financed from abroad by over 20% and would force them to open all their internal documents for inspection by the authorities. An almost identical “foreign agent’” law was enacted in the Russian Federation in 2012, leading to even greater stifling of any meaningful opposition to that country’s dictatorial regime. It is to be feared that Georgia could undergo a similar development if the law would not be repealed. The issue has aroused massive protest all over Georgia, where tens of thousands have demonstrated in the streets.

Therefore, the situation in Georgia merits urgent and wider European attention and should be addressed by the Assembly.