Georgian authorities finally adopt pro-Russian law on "foreign agents" — EU reacts
news.online.ua
Wed, 02 Apr 2025 21:04:00 +0300
The EU criticized the law on foreign agents adopted in GeorgiaThe Georgian Parliament has adopted amendments to the Law On Broadcasting, according to which foreign funding of broadcasters will be prohibited and control over the activities of journalists will be strengthened.
At the same time, the Georgian Dream passed the Foreign Agents Registration Act, an analogue of the US FARA law, but unlike the American version, the Georgian law is directed against independent public organizations and media.
The article on treason, which was abolished in 2007, was also returned to the Georgian Criminal Code.
It defined the concept of high treason, but has now been renamed treason to the motherland.Georgian parliamentarians have removed the concept of gender from 15 existing laws the wording gender equality has been changed to equality between men and women, while gender identity will be excluded from the legislation.The mandatory participation of NGOs in the legislative process has also been abolished.
Georgian Dream explained this decision by saying that the activities of NGOs are antidemocratic and subversive.However, the participation of the third sector was one of the key requirements of the EU in preparation for Georgias accession to the European Union.The Foreign Agents Registration Act will enter into force 60 days after being signed by elected President Mikheil Kavelashvili, while other amendments will enter into force immediately after being signed.European Diplomacy Chief Kaia Kallas and European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos criticized the new document on foreign agents adopted by the Georgian Dream, emphasizing that the laws threaten the survival of civil society and independent media, curtail human rights protection, unduly restrict fundamental freedoms and undermine the democratic decisionmaking process.
Georgias return to the path of EU accession is entirely in the hands of the countrys authorities.
The European Union remains ready to support the European aspirations of the Georgian people and all efforts aimed at a democratic, stable and European future for Georgia, the European External Action Service said in a statement.
Kallas and Kos also stressed that the new laws further undermine the foundations of democracy in Georgia and are fundamentally incompatible with the EUs values of democracy, the rule of law and media pluralism.
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