Tbilisi: The deadline for registering an organization under foreign agent law has passed. The Foreign Agents Law demands compulsory registration of an organization if it receives more than 20 percent of its funding from a foreign country.
Although the law was challenged in the constitutional court the authorities announced the registration dates. Now amid the legal challenges the deadline has been passed. The law was adopted by the Parliament of Georgia in May of this year.
It covers non-commercial entities and media outlets. As per the law’s provision an organisation will be regarded organization “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if it receives more than 20 percent of its funding from outside Georgia.
The authorities have opened branches across the country to submit registration applications. Interested organizations have to register themselves at branches of the Public Service Hall spread in almost 30 cities across Georgia. There are also provisions for fines in case of refusal. They will be fined ₾ $25,000 ($9,000) and then authorities will register these institutions unilaterally.
On the other hand the Constitutional Court held its session on a petition filed by the President and other concerned organizations as well. The petition contends that the law has been implemented, violating basic provisions of the court’s constitution. The petitioner further claimed that this would hinder Georgia’s progress toward Georgian integration.
The court hearing is now at the stage of deliberation to decide whether it will be logical to suspend the law’s implementation until the court’s final decision. Meanwhile many organizations have already refused to register under the law and the court will also give its ruling on whether it has to proceed with the case.
The representative of the prominent organization Transparency International Georgia has already stated that they will not register themselves under the controversial foreign agent’s law. Similarly Archil Talakvadze, the Georgian parliament speaker while accusing domestic NGOs said that they are “bullying” organisations. He specifically mentioned the name of the Shame movement, which registered but revoked its decision after some time.
