Kakha Kaladze, the Secretary General of the ruling party and Mayor of Tbilisi, announced on Monday that organizations receiving funding from abroad must register under the new foreign influence transparency law or face severe penalties, including fines and confiscation.
Kaladze expressed skepticism about the intentions behind the grants provided by Georgia's partner countries, suggesting they may not always be used for positive purposes.
In his comments to journalists, Kaladze stated, "If they do not comply, there are financial penalties and then confiscation. They will not be able to function and receive funds. If they are truly doing good work and have no bad intentions, what is the problem with filling out the declaration and showing the finances? However, there is a concern that this polarization, the financing of revolutionary scenarios -everything -happened because of this lack of transparency."
The law, titled On Transparency of Foreign Influence, was officially published in the legislative database today, bearing the signature of the Speaker of Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili. This law mandates that all non-governmental and media organizations funded by Georgia's partner countries must register as entities acting in the interests of a foreign power. Despite widespread protests and concerns from partner countries about the law's potential to hinder European integration, the Chairman of Parliament has described it as "the most Georgian law."
On May 28, the Georgian Parliament overrode the President's veto and approved the bill initiated by the Georgian Dream ruling party, with 84 votes in favor. Protests continue to erupt in Tbilisi and other Georgian cities, with targeted organizations pledging to challenge the law through legal channels.
The controversy intensified two weeks prior, on May 14, when the bill was adopted in its third reading by Parliament. During this period, Jim O'Brien, the US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, visited Georgia. O'Brien warned that if the law was not amended to align with EU standards, the US would impose financial and travel restrictions. The European Union is also contemplating possible visa restrictions and other sanctions.
