The Constitutional Court of Georgia resumed discussions on Friday on the repeal of the controversial Transparency of Foreign Influence law, with a key focus on the testimony of an invited specialist.
Tamar Kordzaia, a member of the Unity opposition coalition, emphasized the importance of this testimony, particularly in addressing the law’s alleged negative and stigmatizing implications from a terminological perspective.
“Yesterday, we heard completely unqualified explanations from the defendant,” Kordzaia said. “It’s very sad that the state institution is represented by someone who has become an object of ridicule due to their lack of qualifications.”
Kordzaia further criticized the representative from the Ministry of Justice, who she claimed displayed incompetence during the previous day’s trial, leading to mockery. She highlighted that while representatives of the Ministry of Justice will likely focus on technical details, they lack the competence to address the constitutionality of the law – “a key issue in the ongoing dispute”.
The Transparency of Foreign Influence law, also referred to by critics as the “Russian law,” is currently being examined by the Constitutional Court to determine its compliance with the Constitution of Georgia.
The court is reviewing four lawsuits filed against the law by various groups, including the President of Georgia, 112 non-governmental and media organizations, 38 opposition parliamentarians, and two media outlets.
While each lawsuit presents different aspects of opposition to the law, they share a common belief that the law contradicts the Constitution of Georgia. The court has consolidated these lawsuits for joint consideration, though each speaker will present their arguments separately.
It was revealed on Thursday that a fifth lawsuit has been submitted to the court. This new lawsuit, however, has not yet been officially registered and will be considered separately.
