Georgia’s President files historic lawsuit against Foreign Influence Transparency Law


Author
Front News Georgia
The President of Georgia has initiated proceedings with the Constitutional Court to challenge the constitutionality of the Foreign Influence Transparency Law, condemned by the domestic opposition and international allies as a “Russian law”.
This marks the first time in Georgia’s history that a sitting President has directly petitioned the Constitutional Court, Giorgi Mskhiladze, Parliamentary Secretary to the President, announced on Monday.
According to Mskhiladze, the President’s lawsuit contends that the Foreign Influence Transparency Law violates Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution and infringes upon several fundamental rights guaranteed by the constitution.
“The President’s petition seeks the immediate suspension and complete repeal of the Foreign Influence Transparency Law,” Mskhiladze said. He further elaborated that the lawsuit challenged specific provisions of the law that were deemed to be in conflict with constitutional principles.
The Foreign Influence Transparency Law, enacted recently, requires stringent disclosures from individuals and organizations receiving foreign funding. Critics, including the President’s office, argue that these requirements overly restrict fundamental freedoms and rights enshrined in the Georgian Constitution.
The United States has imposed visa restrictions on unspecified Georgian officials for “undermining democracy” after the adoption of the law and “indefinitely postponed” the Noble Partner military exercises, while the EU also suspended specific fundings.
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