On 14 May, the Georgian Parliament adopted the bill on “foreign influence” in its third and final reading. It now awaits the presidential signature before becoming law. Once in force, it will oblige all civil society organizations with more than 20% of their budget coming from foreign sources to register themselves as “conductors of the interests of a foreign power.” Many prominent civil society organizations are expected to cease their work as a result, to avoid smear, stigmatization and undue restrictions of their right to freedom of association

Reacting to the final adoption of the restrictive “foreign influence” bill by the Parliament of Georgia, Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:

“Today Georgia’s governing party bulldozed through this harmful law, which tramples on the human rights of all people in Georgia.”

“This damaging bill contravenes Georgia’s international obligations on the rights to freedom of expression and association and strikes at the heart of civil society’s ability to operate freely and effectively. Independent civil society in Georgia not only contributes to the protection of human rights and delivery of essential services but also provides important checks and balances on the country’s increasing restrictions on human rights and the civic space.

This damaging bill contravenes Georgia’s international obligations on the rights to freedom of expression and association and strikes at the heart of civil society’s ability to operate freely and effectively

Marie Struthers, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia

“We urge the Georgian authorities to cease their efforts to stifle freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association. This legislation has no place in a society that respects human rights. This is a dark day for Georgia, but the struggle is not over.”

Background

On 14 May, the Georgian Parliament adopted the bill on “foreign influence” in its third and final reading. It now awaits the presidential signature before becoming law. Once in force, it will oblige all civil society organizations with more than 20% of their budget coming from foreign sources to register themselves as “conductors of the interests of a foreign power.” Many prominent civil society organizations are expected to cease their work as a result, to avoid smear, stigmatization and undue restrictions of their right to freedom of association.

As in previous days, activists gathered at the entrance to the Parliament in the capital Tbilisi. According to reports, police forces clashed with demonstrators opposing the bill. Water cannons and special police units were deployed, and traffic was blocked along Rustaveli Avenue, the capital’s main avenue.