Aslan Bzhania, the de facto President of Georgia’s Russian-occupied Abkhazia region, this week unveiled a controversial new bill aimed at regulating non-profit organizations and individuals deemed to be operating on behalf of foreign interests within the region, following year-long reported pressure from Moscow.  

Presented to the de facto parliament, the bill titled "On Non-Profit Organizations and Natural Persons Engaging in Activities of Foreign Agents" has sparked debate and concern within Abkhazian civil society.

Under the provisions of the draft law, non-profit organizations may face designation as engaging in activities of foreign agents if they receive financial support or other assets from foreign sources and participate in political activities aligned with the interests of those entities within Abkhazia's territory. The law encompasses a wide range of organizations, including those established by administrative-territorial units, religious groups, political parties, and ethnic associations.

Foreign sources, as defined by the bill, include “other states”, governmental bodies, international organizations, foreign citizens, and entities funded by such sources. The bill claims it aims to increase “transparency and accountability”, but critics fear it could lead to the suppression of dissent and the stifling of civil society.

The introduction of the bill mirrors similar measures seen in Russia, with Moscow reportedly pressuring Abkhazia to enact laws targeting entities with foreign ties. The response from Abkhazian civil society has been swift, with many expressing concerns over the potential ramifications for freedom of expression and association within the region.

After the appointment of Inal Ardzinba, who worked in the administration of the Russian president, as the de facto minister of foreign affairs of Abkhazia in 2021, the pressure and threats against the non-governmental organizations operating in Abkhazia increased.Tbilisi also intended to adopt the foreign transparency bill last year. 

However, the ruling Georgian Dream party was forced to retract it after mass rallies in the country’s capital city, labeling the legal piece as a “Russian law” which could create obstacles to organizations critical to the authorities.