Georgia Has Lost Its Chance For The EU?
- 31.05.2025, 17:48
The European Commission has sharply condemned the "foreign agents" law.
The scandalous law on "foreign agents" has come into force in Georgia. The European Commission sharply condemned the document and said it was halting the country's EU accession process.
This was reported by RBC-Ukraine with reference to SOVA and the European Union's website.
In Georgia from today, May 31, the law "on transparency of foreign influence" came into force, which is analogous to the Russian law on foreign agents adopted in 2024.
The law provides for imprisonment for up to 5 years and applies to both organizations and individuals.
The draft law provides for registration, disclosure of relevant documents and submission of annual financial declaration. It also defines the conditions for cancellation of registration and monitoring mechanisms to be entrusted to the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
It should be noted that this law was approved in final reading by the Parliament of Georgia in early April 2024.
Georgian Dream claims that it is an analog of the American law FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) - "Foreign Agents Registration Act".
The law in particular regulates the following issues:
- registration of an entity as an agent of a foreign principal;
- ensuring publicity of the application for registration as an agent of a foreign principal and other relevant documents;
- submission of an annual financial declaration by an entity registered as an agent of a foreign principal;
- revocation of registration of an entity registered as an agent of a foreign principal;
- conducting monitoring to identify an agent of a foreign principal;
- conducting monitoring to identify an agent of a foreign principal.
The bill also establishes criminal liability for evasion of registration as an agent of a foreign principal or failure to comply with the relevant requirements specified in the bill.
Reaction of the European Union
The EU's chief diplomat Kaja Kallas issued a joint statement with Commissioner Marta Kos.
Georgia's law on registration of foreign agents is a serious step backwards for the country's democracy," they emphasized.
According to Kallas and Kos, along with the recent laws on broadcasting and grants, this law is another aggressive action of the Georgian authorities aimed at suppressing dissent, limiting freedoms and further narrowing the space for activists, civil society and independent media.
- These repressive measures threaten the very existence of Georgia's democratic foundations and the future of its citizens in a free and open society," the statement said.
At the same time, in a joint statement, the diplomats drew attention to the fact that in its conclusions of June and October 2024, the European Council recognized that such a course of action jeopardizes Georgia's path to the EU.
- The accession process has been effectively halted. The EU reiterates its call on the Georgian authorities to heed the clear demands of its citizens for democracy and a European future, and to release all unjustly detained journalists, activists, protesters and political leaders," Kallas and Kos said.
At the same time, the appeal notes that the EU is ready to consider Georgia's return to the EU accession path if the authorities take credible steps to overcome the retreat from democracy.
- Responsibility lies solely with the Georgian authorities," the appeal says. Under it, anyone who receives "support" from outside Russia, or is "influenced" from outside Russia, must register and declare themselves a "foreign agent".
After registration, these individuals are subject to additional checks and must label all their publications with a 24-word disclaimer that they are being distributed by a "foreign agent".