Georgia set to adopt controversial "foreign influence" law mirroring US FARA

Georgia's parliament, at the initiative of the ruling party Georgian Dream, is set to review, and adopt the "Transparency of Foreign Influence" law within the next two months, said party's executive secretary Mamuka Mdinaradze.

This law is intended to mirror the existing US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

"We will present the bill on 'Transparency of Foreign Influence' to parliament, in a version that is entirely identical to the current US law FARA," he stated.

Mdinaradze also noted that in 2024, the Georgian parliament had passed the "Transparency of Foreign Influence" law, although it has not yet been fully implemented.

"As is known, this law requires non-governmental organisations receiving foreign financial aid to register with the Ministry of Justice’s register. However, this requirement has not been followed by some of the largest and wealthiest NGOs, which receive foreign aid," Mdinaradze explained.

The law, adopted by the Georgian parliament, has been sharply criticised by the European Union and the previous US administration. In response to its passage, both the EU and the US imposed sanctions on Georgia and its leaders.

The US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), passed in 1938, mandates that individuals conducting political or economic activities in the US on behalf of foreign entities must register, document, and obtain permission for such activities.

By Aghakazim Guliyev