The Georgian NGO Shame movement announced on Saturday that it is reversing its August 30 decision regarding registration in the Foreign Influence Registry. The organization, which is the largest civil movement in the country, deleted its previous video and made a new Facebook post saying they acknowledged public backlash and criticism regarding their earlier decision.
In a statement, the organization expressed regret for the timing, format, and content of their earlier announcement. They admitted that their decision-making process lacked proper risk assessment and prevention strategies.
„Our decision was based on the goal of conducting campaigns to increase citizen participation in the elections, to support a change in government through the October elections. However, based on the feedback we have received, we realize that we have unintentionally fostered nihilism and disappointment even among our supporters, which harms our common goal both in the short and long term,” the statement reads, adding the main reason for their earlier decision was legal penalties for not registering in the registry.
The Facebook post also reads that Giorgi Mzhavanadze, the Executive Director of the movement, has stepped down and the organization will continue its work under new leadership. In addition, Shame Movement thanked its supporters for their honest feedback and advice.
Georgia’s Constitutional Court is reviewing four lawsuits against the law on Foreign Influence Transparency, which is labeled as a “Russian law” by domestic actors, allegedly impeding the country’s European integration. The law obliges local NGOs and media organizations to register as pursuants of foreign influence if they receive more than 20 percent of their incomes from abroad. Fines for organizations not registered in the registry will begin to be imposed from September 3.
