“None of versions” of foreign agents bill needed for Georgia – US ambassador

Kelly Degnan, the US ambassador to Georgia, on Monday once again slammed the bills on the transparency of foreign influence proposed by former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and stressed none of the two versions of the bill offered by the MPs who still remain in the parliamentary majority were needed for the country. 

 

She reiterated the bills – that envisage the registration of domestic NGOs and media organizations as foreign agents if they receive more than 20 percent of their incomes from foreign donors –  had triggered “serious concerns” in her country’s administration, as well as in the EU, UN, CoE and “many of country’s partners”. 

 

The diplomat said the bills were expected to “stigmatize civil society and silence independent media like in Russia under the same law.” 

 

“We urge the Georgian parliament to think about the need for this bill. It is not necessary. This law will have a devastating impact on organizations that do a good job to help citizens in need. We urge the parliament to review and drop it”, said the diplomat. 

 

The People’s Power movement has registered two bills on foreign agents. The authors claim one of the bills is based on US legislation. 

 

The ruling party says it backs the bills that are being discussed in the parliament amid large public protests.