Nino Lomjaria, the founder of the public platform European Orbit of Georgia and the country’s former public defender, on Friday criticized Georgia’s Constitutional Court for what she described as its failure to act independently from the ruling party, as the court on thursday declined a request to suspend the controversial Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, a move Lomjaria believes is a “blow to the country’s European integration efforts”.
“The court had a historic opportunity to oppose the suspension of the European integration process, to prevent the government’s uncontrolled access to citizens’ confidential information, and to stand by its own people, who have defied Russian law despite months of government violence,” Lomjaria said. “Unfortunately, the Constitutional Court came under the influence of the ruling party and failed to protect the Constitution.”
The court’s decision to deem lawsuits against the law admissible for consideration was overshadowed by its refusal to halt the law’s enforcement, Lomjaria stressed.
Georgian media and civil society organizations expressed gratitude to the two judges who voted against the decision, vowing to continue their legal fight against what they see as “creeping authoritarianism and censorship” in the country.
“We will pursue this battle both domestically and internationally, and with the support of the Georgian people, we will secure the law’s final and unconditional repeal,” Lomjaria stated.
The Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence has sparked widespread protests and criticism from opposition groups and the country’s foreign allies, who argue that it mirrors Russian-style regulations aimed at suppressing civil liberties and free expression.
