Attempts to reintroduce a foreign agent law in Georgia and its restrictions on civil society
TA-9-2024-0381 · P9_TA(2024)0381 · PE762.555
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Parliament condemns Georgia's draft 'transparency of foreign influence' law, which would restrict civil society and independent media, and urges Georgia to withdraw it and respect EU values.¶¶¶ It calls on EU institutions to assess the law's impact on Georgia's EU path, visa liberalisation, and EU funding, and to consider sanctions on Bidzina Ivanishvili.¶¶¶ It also urges Georgia to protect fundamental rights, withdraw LGBTIQ restrictions, release Mikheil Saakashvili, and allow an international election observation mission.¶¶¶
Key points
- Strongly condemns the draft law on 'transparency of foreign influence' as imposing debilitating restrictions on civil society and independent media.¶
- Underlines that the draft law is incompatible with EU values and endangers Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.¶
- Stresses that EU accession negotiations should not be opened while the law is in force.¶
- Urges the Georgian Parliament to halt proceedings and the Government to honour its March 2023 commitment not to propose such a law again.¶
- Highlights that the draft law betrays the aspirations of the Georgian people for democracy and EU membership.¶
- Emphasises that freedom of expression, assembly and peaceful protest must be respected, and calls for investigation of disproportionate force against protesters.¶¶
- Calls on Georgian authorities to ensure an enabling environment for civil society and independent media.¶
- Denounces inspiration from Russian legislation like the 'Foreign Agents Law'.¶
- Recalls that candidate status was granted on condition of steps including civil society freedom and fighting disinformation, which the draft law violates.¶
- Invites the Commission to submit an interim assessment of Georgia's progress on the nine steps.¶
- Calls on the Commission and Member States to assess the law's impact on EU funding and communicate consequences.¶
- Deplores the role of Bidzina Ivanishvili and calls for consideration of personal sanctions against him.¶
Who is affected
- Georgian civil society and independent media: the law would require registration and impose restrictions.¶¶
- Georgian Government and Parliament: urged to withdraw the law and respect commitments.¶¶
- Bidzina Ivanishvili: potential personal sanctions.¶
- Former President Mikheil Saakashvili: called for release on humanitarian grounds.¶