Prepared by Messenger Staff
GYLA Challenges Controversial Foreign Agents Law in Constitutional Court
The Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), along with two independent media outlets, has filed a constitutional lawsuit to overturn the recently adopted Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and suspend its enforcement while the court deliberates.
Passed by the Georgian Dream controlled Parliament on April 1, FARA is set to come into force by the end of the month. In a public statement, GYLA argued that the law violates Georgia's Constitution and is intended to silence, discredit, and persecute independent civil society groups and media, partly through the threat of criminal prosecution.
Although the ruling party has claimed that the law is modeled on the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act of 1938, the lawsuit disputes this comparison. GYLA contends that the U.S. version applies to individuals or entities acting under the direction of foreign powers, not to those merely receiving foreign funding. U.S. court rulings, the statement notes, make clear that funding alone does not place an organization under the donor's control or trigger registration requirements.
The complaint also highlights concerns about Georgia's institutional context. It argues that, unlike in the U.S., the law in Georgia grants expansive powers to agencies such as the Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Prosecutor's Office, and the judiciary. GYLA claims these institutions are subject to political influence by the Georgian Dream government.
"We do not expect the Constitutional Court to act swiftly or in accordance with the Constitution. However, we believe that we should use all legal means to protect the rights granted by the Constitution," the organization stated.
Chinese Economic Activity in Georgia Reaches Record Levels
Chinese business presence in Georgia surged in 2024, with 291 new companies registered by Chinese nationals, the highest ever recorded in a single year. The data comes from a new report by Transparency International Georgia.
Since the Georgian Dream party came to power in 2013, Chinese business activity has steadily grown. Between 2013 and 2024, Chinese citizens registered nearly 1,900 companies in Georgia, four times more than in the previous decade. Direct investment from China reached 600 million dollars, five times higher than the total between 2003 and 2012.
Trade between the two countries also expanded. In 2024, bilateral trade hit 2 billion dollars, making China Georgia's fourth largest trading partner.
Chinese tourism increased as well. Around 89,000 Chinese citizens visited Georgia in 2024, up 83 percent from the previous year, following the removal of visa requirements.
Chinese companies are now involved in several large infrastructure projects in Georgia. One of the most notable is the Anaklia port development, awarded to China Communications Construction Company, which is under US sanctions.
Transparency International warns that while the economic gains are clear, partnerships with sanctioned Chinese firms raise concerns about long-term security and political risks.
