Georgia’s Constitutional Court declines to suspend law on "foreign agents"

Georgia's Constitutional Court has decided not to suspend the “transparency of foreign influence” law, while a lawsuit against it is under consideration.

As many as 38 opposition members of the Georgian Parliament, 122 non-governmental organisations, two media organisations, and President Salome Zourabichvili have filed lawsuits demanding the annulment of the so-called law on foreign agents, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

They argue that the legislation equates Georgia's friends and foes, attaches harmful labels, and hampers the country’s integration into the European Union.

At present, the Constitutional Court, by six votes to two, has rejected the plaintiffs' request to suspend the contested provisions until a final decision is reached.

"During the examination of the case, no potential irreversible consequences were identified that could arise from the enforcement of the disputed provisions before the Constitutional Court's ruling. Therefore, the plaintiffs' demand to suspend the provisions regulating reporting and monitoring should not be granted," the court's decision stated.

The court will continue to examine the law and will determine whether several of its provisions comply with Georgia’s Constitution.

By Aghakazim Guliyev