Controversial foreign agent law comes into force in Georgia

Aug. 1 () –

The controversial foreign agents law that has sparked a wave of protests against the Georgian government throughout this year finally came into force on Thursday, as the country’s authorities had anticipated.

The legislation, called the Foreign Influence Transparency Act, is similar to Russia’s “foreign agents” legislation, which Moscow uses to target government critics, and could spark further criticism and protests later in the day.

The law requires organizations, media outlets and similar entities that receive at least 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as “agents defending the interests of foreign forces.” Failure to do so will result in heavy fines.

The exact number of NGOs currently operating in the country is not known, but the ruling Georgian Dream party estimates that there are around 3,000, the vast majority of which operate with foreign aid.

Prime Minister Irakli Koabjidze has accused such organisations of often using this funding to carry out “political activities contrary to the authorities” of the country.