The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned Georgia’s parliament for advancing a controversial foreign agent bill, warning that it poses an “existential threat” to the country’s independent media.
On March 18, lawmakers approved the bill in a second reading, moving it closer to becoming law by early April. The ruling Georgian Dream party claims the bill is an “exact copy” of the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), but critics fear it will be used more aggressively to stifle dissent.
“CPJ condemns the Georgian parliament’s approval in a second reading of an ‘exact copy’ of the US Foreign Agents Registration Act. In the hands of an increasingly authoritarian ruling Georgian Dream party, FARA’s overbroad provisions and criminal sanctions could wipe out Georgia’s donor-reliant independent press and media advocacy groups,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator. “Georgian authorities should reject any form of ‘foreign agent’ law.”
The bill introduces harsh penalties, including up to five years in prison for non-compliance. Unlike Georgia’s existing foreign agent law, which only imposes fines, the new legislation would extend to individuals and could force news outlets to label their content as produced by a “foreign agent.”
The final reading is expected by April 4, and President Mikheil Kavelashvili is likely to sign the bill into law. CPJ has urged Georgian authorities to abandon the legislation, warning it could lead to a crackdown on press freedom.
