Georgian Civil Society Organizations Condemn Foreign Agents Law as 'Repackaged Russian Law'
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, March 25, 2025
More than 100 civil society organizations (CSOs) have condemned the Foreign Agents Registration Act, set to be adopted by the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party, calling it a "repackaged Russian law" that targets independent media and the civil sector. In a joint statement, they declared their refusal to "live and work under Russian laws."
The statement also refuted GD's claim that its proposed law is similar to the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), arguing that the American law "does not oppose the activities of independent NGOs and free media", whereas the Georgian version directly targets both sectors.
In their statement, the organizations asserted that "any act of Ivanishvili's illegitimate parliament that restricts people's freedom is anti-Georgian and unconstitutional." They reaffirmed their commitment to the Constitution of Georgia and their mission "to serve the Georgian people."
Nino Lomjaria, founder of the civic platform Georgia's European Orbit, accused the government of attempting to "suppress any manifestation of freedom."
"After the political arrests of more than 50 people, raids, and repression, they want to leave children and women who are victims of violence unprotected, cut off funding for scholars, young people, and socially vulnerable families, and silence the voices of the people," Lomjaria said.
Baia Pataraia, Executive Director of Sapari, pointed out that the U.S. FARA does not apply to media organizations and CSOs, whereas the Georgian version specifically includes them in its explanatory note.
"Ivanishvili's FARA, which lies to be an American law, explicitly mentions CSOs in its explanatory note," she stated. "Very soon, everyone will know if this law is Ivanishvili's FARA or American FARA because if it starts to be used against CSOs, then we simply have a repackaged Russian law."
Ucha Nanuashvili, founder of the Democracy Research Institute, argued that the law serves Russian geopolitical interests.
"Its main purpose is to implement Russian interests on the territory of Georgia, and this is precisely the goal of the whole Georgian Dream, and this is exactly what the illegitimate authorities have been doing in recent months," he said.
Nanuashvili further emphasized the CSOs' commitment to resisting the law, calling it "unconstitutional, anti-people, anti-Georgian."
"CSOs will take all necessary steps to prevent GD from implementing the law for the third time," he added.
The proposed Foreign Agents Registration Act has sparked widespread opposition from civil society groups, media organizations, and international actors, with critics warning that it could undermine Georgia's democratic institutions and European integration efforts. As CSOs continue to mobilize against the law, the debate over its implications for Georgia's political landscape remains highly contentious.
