four questions on the controversial “foreign influence” bill considered by Parliament

The text, perceived as repressive by the opposition, was adopted on second reading by Georgian parliamentarians. It must be examined for third and final reading by mid-May.

The adoption of the bill on “foreign influence” in second reading by Parliament on Wednesday, May 1, sparked a new escalation in the protest movement across Georgia. Thousands of protesters waving Georgian flags took to the streets to gather in front of Parliament and attempt to block entrances to the building.

For critics of this text, the bill defended by the majority Georgian Dream party of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili will weaken the activities of NGOs and media organizations in the country. The opposition also denounces a repressive project, contrary to the process of accession to the European Union.

1 What does this bill contain?

The Georgian government, led by Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, had previously attempted to pass a similar bill in March 2023, but backed down after massive protests. The government assures that this time, this text has been largely revised. According to the executive, it is intended to force non-governmental organizations and the media to demonstrate greater “transparency” on their financing.

If passed, this law will require NGOs or media organizations receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “organizations pursuing the interests of a foreign power”punishable by fine.

2 Why is this reform controversial?

The opposition and demonstrators denounce the Russian inspiration of this law. In 2012, Duma parliamentarians adopted a comparable law which established a “foreign agent” status.

This text is “a copy of the Putin law”assures on France 24 the pro-European president of Georgia, Salome Zourabishvili, in conflict with the ruling party. This project is also considered liberticidal by many NGOs. If the bill is adopted, Human Rights Watch fears that NGOs will be “subject to further review by the authorities and sanctions, including criminal sanctions.”

At the end of 2023, the EU granted Georgia official candidate status. However, the Georgian government must carry out a series of reforms to get accession negotiations started. This bill is seen by Brussels as incompatible with this process. “The Georgian people have chosen the European path (…). Let us be clear: the bill (…) is not in line with Georgia’s EU aspirations and its accession trajectory, and will push Georgia away from the EU instead of bringing it closer”reacted the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, on the social network

3 How does opposition to the text translate into the streets?

Since April 9, several demonstrations organized at the call of the main opposition party have brought together thousands of people in Tbilisi and major cities. Some of these gatherings were marked by incidents and violence.

Thus, on April 30, the police intervened without warning, using tear gas and rubber bullets, beating and arresting dozens of people. Levan Khabeishvili, the president of the United National Movement, the main opposition party, was violently beaten.

The latter published on the social network a photo of his swollen face. The Georgian Ministry of the Interior assured for its part that the police had used force in a manner “legitimate” because the demonstration was “became violent”, and indicated that 63 people had been arrested for having “disobeyed the police” and committed acts of vandalism.

4 What are the next steps before its adoption?

Despite three weeks of massive demonstrations and European pressure on the government, Georgian deputies debated the bill at second reading on Tuesday April 30. They voted for the text 83 in favor and 23 against. The Georgian Dream wants to adopt it definitively by mid-May, during a third reading examination.

The country’s president, Salomé Zourabichvili, announced that she would use her veto to block this legislation in Parliament. But this veto can be overcome by qualified majority, available to the ruling party. Once adopted, the bill must be signed by the head of state.