TI Georgia head announces “different strategies” to halt foreign influence bill

The executive director of Transparency International – Georgia, Eka Gigauri, on Thursday announced her organization was set to file a lawsuit in the Constitutional Court against the foreign influence bill, before reaching the European Court of Human Rights. 

Despite strong protests from civil society and international partners, on May 28, the Parliament of Georgia overrode the president’s veto on the bill and passed the legislation.

The law, which mandates that non-governmental and media organizations receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad be classified as organizations serving the interests of a foreign power, is set to be signed by the chairman of the Parliament of Georgia.

“It is crucial for everyone to be aware of who is endorsing this law,” Gigauri stated. “Whether it is a politician, a judge in the Constitutional Court, or the judge penalizing our activists, it is important to identify those who have signed the Russian-influenced legislation and are steering Georgia towards Russia.”

Gigauri claimed “we are committed and proactive, with multiple plans to prevent this law from being enforced.”