Tbilisi Bans NGOs from Participating in Public Policy Development
The Georgian Parliament has adopted in its final reading a bill amending 14 existing laws. According to the amendments, which were supported by 81 MPs, the non-governmental sector of Georgia is now prohibited from participating in public decision-making, including nominating candidates for membership in the Council of Prosecutors and the Disciplinary Board of Judges of General Jurisdiction. It is noteworthy that previously, NGO participation in public administration was mandatory.
The initiators of the amendments claim that the contribution of non-governmental organizations to the development of public policy and the adoption of socially significant decisions may threaten the country's sovereignty.
"Most NGOs are funded from abroad. Accordingly, these are organizations that serve the interests of sponsoring states and organizations. Based on the above, their actions in the process of public decision-making are not based on the interests of local society, but serve the political and economic agenda of external forces," the explanatory note to the bill says.
The day before, the Georgian parliament approved a number of controversial legislative innovations in the final reading. These include a "direct copy" of the American FARA, amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, and the return of the article on treason to the Criminal Code.
