Ruling authorities may treat any foreign income as politically loaded grant, legal expert

Legal expert Nika Simonishvili has warned that under proposed changes to Georgia’s Law on Grants, any income received from abroad could be considered a grant by the ruling party, Georgian Dream, if the party deems the recipient’s actions politically undesirable.

Simonishvili on Friday explained that if foreign income is treated as a politically loaded grant without government approval, the individual could face criminal liability.

“Any person who receives any income from abroad, which the Georgian Dream may interpret as a grant with political implications, will be subject to the grant regulations. This means government approval is required, and without it, criminal responsibility applies,” Simonishvili said.

He further noted that the law left vague definitions regarding what constitutes a politically motivated action or foreign income.

“The initiative leaves it open-ended, meaning any income we might receive could be classified as a grant by Georgian Dream if our actions are not aligned with their preferences,” Simonishvili added.

The legal expert highlighted that the law imposed strict penalties for violations. Offenders could face fines, 300-500 hours of community service, or imprisonment for up to six years.