Georgian Prime Minister Comments on Entry into Force of "American" Version of Foreign Agent Law

On May 31, the so-called "direct copy" of the American Foreign Agents Registration Act officially entered into force in Georgia, replacing the "Russian" version of the law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence". Let us recall that failure to comply with the requirements established by the new law, including the obligation to register as a foreign agent, entails criminal liability and punishment in the form of imprisonment for up to 5 years.

The country's Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said that the FARA analogue "will be used at full capacity." The ruling party does not hide the fact that the initiative is aimed against Western financing, which they believe is the cause of revolutionary sentiments in Georgia.

"Over the past four years, we have witnessed four attempts to organize a revolution in Georgia with foreign financing, which directly contradicts our national interests and state sovereignty. Naturally, we must counter this with sound legislation, and in this case we have decided to fully implement the transparency law, to which there is no alternative,” Kobakhidze said.

He stressed that “if someone wants to finance revolutions in Georgia from outside, they must do so, at least, transparently.”