Georgian NGOs defy foreign transparency law after warning from anti-corruption bureau

Six Georgian non-governmental organisations on Friday said they had received letters from the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau accusing them of violating the controversial foreign transparency law and demanding to know why they had not registered as entities “serving the interests of a foreign power”.

In a joint statement, the groups - including Transparency International Georgia, the Social Justice Center and the Media Development Foundation - said they would send the bureau legal documentation arguing that they were not subject to registration under the law.

The NGOs said they would not comply with the legislation, which they describe as “Russian-style” and “aimed at silencing independent civil society and free media.” They insisted they have operated as independent Georgian organisations working to defend the rights of women, children, workers, people with disabilities, displaced persons and other marginalised groups, as well as to monitor elections, expose corruption and counter disinformation.

They further argued that even under standards similar to the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) - which the Georgian government has cited in defending the law - they would not be required to register.

“The persecution of independent NGOs and free media in the style of Putin’s Russia aims to end democracy,” the statement said, vowing to continue their work until Georgia becomes a “free, democratic EU member state”.

The law, adopted earlier this year, has faced strong criticism from Western governments, rights groups and domestic protesters, who said it threatens Georgia’s democratic aspirations. The government insisted it was needed to ensure transparency in NGO and media funding.