The Georgian Parliament Chairman, Shalva Papuashvili, has signed the Russian Law on the so-called Foreign Agents. The law is set to come into effect tomorrow, following its publication in the Legislative Gazette.
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"Within 60 days from tomorrow, the Ministry of Justice will develop all subordinate normative acts. Additionally, an electronic portal will be created for organizations. After 60 days, if I'm not mistaken, on September 3-4, there will be an obligation for those organizations with significant foreign funding to register on this portal and declare their finances for 2023," Papuashvili told journalists.
Hundreds of non-governmental organizations and media outlets have stated that they will not register as "carrying the interests of a foreign power." They have declared their intention to disobey the anti-constitutional law and, in order to stop it, they will appeal to the Constitutional Court of Georgia and the European Court of Human Rights.
"This is, of course, undemocratic behavior, contrary to the spirit of the rule of law and the principles they have declared we should uphold in a legal state. The law has been passed. Everyone knows what needs to be done and what the consequences will be if finances are not declared," Papuashvili answered to non-governmental and media organizations.
Despite mass protests, as well as critical legal conclusions from the Venice Commission and OSCE/ODIHR, and calls from the European Union, the US State Department, and other partners, Georgian Dream finally adopted the Russian Law on so-called Foreign Agents on May 28.
