"If someone convinces us that transparency or any other law does not correspond to legal principles or the European spirit, we are ready to review any relevant decision, although a sincere discussion is necessary for this," stated Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Kobakhidze, in an interview with Sky TV.
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"At this stage, we face challenges related to specific issues, such as the Transparency Law adopted by the Georgian Parliament. When individuals receiving foreign funding attempt to incite revolution in Georgia, we believe their funding should be fully transparent. The Law on the Protection of Family Values does not restrict human rights. Rather, it aims to limit propaganda. This law aligns with human rights standards," The Prime Minister stated that the Government of Georgia is unequivocally pro-European: “For us, there is no choice here, because the Constitution of Georgia defines as a priority of the country's foreign policy that all authorities should spare no effort to promote Georgia's European integration. The government is unequivocally pro-European.
Despite mass protests and critical legal assessments by the Venice Commission, OSCE/ODIHR, the European Union, the U.S. State Department, and other partners, Georgian Dream passed the Russian-style Foreign Agents law on May 28, 2024. Although the president vetoed the law, Georgian Dream overrode the veto. The law classifies non-governmental organizations and media outlets receiving more than 20% of their income from international grants as entities advancing foreign interests. Failure to register as agents or submit financial declarations on time incurs a fine of 25 000 GEL, with additional fines of 10 000 and 20 000 GEL for non-compliance with Ministry of Justice requirements. Furthermore, the Ministry of Justice can impose a fine of 5000 GEL on individuals who do not provide requested information. The Ministry is also authorized to demand personal, commercial, professional, and confidential information from individuals. The adoption of this law has halted Georgia’s path toward European Union integration.
