Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia made a significant announcement for NGOs. The Prime Minister announced a grant scheme for NGO(Non-Government organizations) working for the national interests.
According to the Prime Minister a state-funded grant will be given to all non-government organisations working for the upliftment of Georgia’s national interest. As per PM the grant program will be established with the support of the state budget. This will mainly support domestic non-governmental organizations.
The program will cover only those NGOs working for the country’s national interests; otherwise they have to register themselves under the foreign agents law as institutes under foreign influence. Kobakhidze made this statement during a briefing and added that all necessary steps will be taken within the next two months. The grant project will start helping the NGO in January 2025.
The grant projects being planned by the Georgian government for domestic NGOs will help all NGO workers who are working for the welfare of the Georgian people and other tasks of national interest. Some of these tasks also include eliminating corruption, addressing hybrid threats, helping people with special needs, Environmental protections and protecting the rights of ethnic and religious minorities.
It is also worth mentioning that ordinary citizens will be authorized to verify the activities of these NGOs regarding how they have been making efforts for the overall welfare of the national interests of Georgia. The PM said that we have invited all NGOs interested in advocating the welfare of every citizen of Georgia. On this occasion the PM disclosed that more than 450 Non-Government Organizations have already applied for registration under the foreign agents law.
The controversial foreign agents law requires non-commercial entities and media outlets to register if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from any foreign country. The registration acceptance center has been established. So far 30 centers have also been accepting applications for registration under the foreign agent’s law which was adopted despite being vetoed by the President.
