Council of Europe Commissioner calls on Georgian authorities not to adopt law on foreign agents

If the bill on foreign agents is adopted in Georgia, it will negatively affect the work of the media and NGOs, including those working in the field of human rights and democracy. This was stated in a letter from Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty addressed to the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili.

“I respectfully ask members of Parliament to refrain from passing the Foreign Influence Transparency Bill.” I ask you to cooperate with local and international partners, including the Council of Europe, in order to ensure favorable conditions for the legitimate work of non-profit organizations and the media,” the letter says.

In the appeal, Michael O'Flaherty writes that he is concerned about the incompatibility of the initiative of the ruling Georgian Dream party with human rights standards.

In Tbilisi, residents protest against the “pro-Russian” law on foreign agents. The Parliament of Georgia is holding hearings on its adoption. The law provides for the appearance of a register in which all non-profit legal entities and media outlets financed by more than 20% from abroad will be entered.

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