Approximately 200 Georgian non-governmental organizations (NGOs) pledged on Wednesday to resist a contentious “foreign influence” law, which has sparked widespread division in the Caucasus nation, prompting large-scale protests and international censure.
The law, likened by critics to repressive legislation utilized in Russia to suppress dissent, mandates that NGOs and media outlets receiving at least one-fifth of their funding from abroad must register as “organizations pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”
Despite objections and veto attempts from pro-European Union President Salome Zurabishvili, the ruling Georgian Dream party pushed the law through parliament, securing its passage in a final vote on Tuesday.
In a joint statement, the approximately 200 NGOs asserted, “By enacting this law, the authorities seek to exert control over Georgia’s civil society,” affirming their refusal to comply with its provisions. They dismissed the law as a futile attempt to replicate Russian legislation and declared their steadfast resistance against its implementation.
Opposition parties and human rights advocates fear that the Georgian Dream party intends to utilize the law to tighten its grip on election monitoring and media scrutiny, potentially influencing the outcome of upcoming elections.
“We, the civil organizations of Georgia, vow to safeguard the integrity of elections and protect the votes of every citizen,” the NGOs proclaimed.
Concerns have been raised by rights groups, including Transparency International’s Georgian chapter, that the law could lead to asset freezes and curtailment of their activities.
Nona Kurdovanidze, chairwoman of the Tbilisi-based GYLA rights advocacy group, labeled the law as unconstitutional and stigmatizing towards NGOs. She emphasized the importance of resisting legislation that contradicts Georgia’s European aspirations, echoing sentiments expressed by Brussels, which has cautioned against the law’s compatibility with Georgia’s EU membership aspirations.
Echoing these sentiments, Eka Gigauri, executive director of Transparency International-Georgia, criticized the law as a tool for silencing dissent and urged its immediate repeal. Amnesty International echoed these sentiments, condemning the legislation as a violation of freedom of association and calling for an end to intimidation and violence against civil society.
Throughout the legislative process, numerous NGO leaders faced harassment, including intimidating phone calls and defamatory posters. Additionally, opposition figures reported physical assaults allegedly linked to the ruling party.
The Georgian Dream party, which has governed since 2012, faces mounting accusations of veering Georgia away from its Western orientation and aligning it more closely with Russia. Despite these criticisms, the party maintains its commitment to Georgia’s European aspirations and argues that the law aims to enhance transparency in NGO funding, alleging that Western-backed groups undermine Georgia’s sovereignty.
The enactment of the law has triggered sustained protests over the past seven weeks, underscoring the deep divisions within Georgian society over its implications.