Georgia approves ‘foreign agents bill’: Why is the Russia-style law so controversial?

Georgia is on the boil. People of the country have taken to the streets of its capital, Tbilisi, and chanting slogans outside the parliament building after lawmakers on Tuesday (14 May) approved a “foreign agents” bill that critics call a Russian-style threat to free speech and also endangers the country’s aspirations to join the European Union.

Chants of “no to the Russian law” rung out loud in the air around the Georgian parliament as 2,000 young protesters raised their voice against the bill that was adopted by lawmakers in a 84-30 vote. Protesters even blocked traffic at a key road intersection in central Tbilisi.

The passage of the “foreign agents bill” , also known as the foreign influence bill, even prompted a warning from the United States with Washington’s assistant secretary of state, Jim O’Brien saying it could be yet another “turning point” in the former Soviet state’s troubled history. He further suggested that funding could soon be pulled.

But what is this now passed legislation? Why is it evoking such protests? And how does it endanger Georgia’s integration with the European Union?

What is the foreign agents bill?

As per the law — On Transparency of Foreign Influence — organisations receiving more than 20 per cent of their funding from abroad would have to register as “agents of foreign influence” or face crippling fines of up to 25,000 GEL (Rs 7.8 lakh).

It further mandates that such organisations and media outlets submit an electronic financial declaration, including full data on the source, amount, and purpose of any money and other material benefits received and spent. This duplicates some reporting obligations to tax and other agencies, and would further put at risk the privacy of those related to the association. The law would permit Georgia’s justice ministry to authorise investigations and request and study additional information, including personal data.

The now legislation was put forth by the ruling Georgian Dream party, or GD, which argues that the law will help in preventing foreign influence and will make information about foreign funding more transparent. Leaders of the Georgian Dream have also said that it is modelled on a US law, the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).

So, what’s the big deal? Why is it controversial?

While proponents of the bill claim that the foreign agents bill would encourage financial transparency, those opposing it call it the “Russian law”, as it bears resemblance to legislation passed by Moscow in 2012. The Kremlin has used it to crackdown on critics — from independent media organisations to human rights groups.

Critics argue that by using the term “foreign agent” the legislation carries connotations of spying, which the authorities want to portray as subversive. The people of Georgia opposing the foreign agents bill also term it as a sneaky attempt of converting the country into a pro-Russian state. In fact, many Georgians feel deep hatred towards Russia after it invaded the country in 2008 and, at present, occupies 20 per cent of its territory as its own.

As one protester, Mariam Esaiashvili, told NPR at a protest earlier, “I want to be a part of Europe, and I want my freedom, as my other friends do. But this law just gets us more far from that mission.”

However, accusations of the bill’s resemblance to the one passed in Moscow has been denied by leaders of the Georgian Dream party. Maka Botchorishvili, who heads the parliament’s committee on EU integration, rejected accusations that her party is aligning itself with Russia. “As [a] Georgian politician and Georgian citizen, it is very much insulting when somebody puts Georgia and Russia on the same level,” Botchorishvili told NPR.

The ruling Georgian Dream party’s founder, Bidzina Ivanishvili, has defended the bill and lashed out at the west. In a recent speech, the billionaire hit out at a “global party of war” and suggested the country’s pro-western opposition was controlled by foreign intelligence services.

And when asked about the protests against the legislation, Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia’s prime minister, termed those opposing it as being arrogant and clueless.

How has the legislation been received in the country?

Not well at all. Even after it was passed into a law, people in Georgia have been up in arms against it. Not just that. At one point, while it was being debated in parliament, lawmakers exchanged blows over it.

And since it was introduced — it was, in fact, first brought to parliament last year — the foreign agents bill has led to nightly protests and demonstrations in Tbilisi. On 12 May, about 50,000 people were out on the streets to protest against the “Russian law”.

What does the international community say? What about EU?

The European Union has denounced the legislation and the ensuing crackdown on protesters, with the New York Times reporting that it renews questions about Georgia’s democratic record.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in a statement earlier this month that she was following the developments in George with “great concern” and reiterated Brussels’ unease over the law. “Georgia is at a crossroads. It should stay the course on the road to Europe,” she was quoted as telling CNN.

And on Tuesday, the EU repeated its position on the foreign agents’ law, saying it undermines Tbilisi’s desire to move closer to the bloc. Its spokesperson, Peter Stano said: “EU member countries are very clear that if this law is adopted it will be a serious obstacle for Georgia in its European perspective.”

In fact, Georgia applied for EU members in 2022. However, last month, Brussels said that the passage of the bill would “negatively impact” Georgia’s path to EU membership.

The United States has also denounced the law with White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre saying that Washington was ‘deeply troubled” by the legislation, which she said “runs counter to democratic values and would move Georgia further away from the values of the European Union. And let’s not forget also NATO.”

Enacting the law “will compel us to fundamentally reassess our relationship with Georgia,” she added, as per an AP report.

What does Russia say?

While the West has denounced the foreign agents bill, Russia has stated that it is being used to “provoke anti-Russian sentiments”.

“This is now the normal practice of a huge number of states that are doing everything to protect themselves from outside influence, from foreign influence on domestic politics. And all countries are taking action in one form or another, but all these bills have the same goal,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in April, according to a CNN report. “Once again, there is no way to link this bill and the desire to secure Georgia’s internal politics with some kind of Russian influence; this is not the case.”

With inputs from agencies