Ahead of the parliamentary vote on legislative amendments announced by the Georgian Dream ruling party, which aim to further silence dissent and tighten control over those who receive foreign support for political and other civic activity, Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia, said:
“The government’s proposed changes to the law on grants are highly damaging and signify Georgia’s further expansion of authoritarian practices to silence and criminalize dissent and entrench power. The amendments significantly broaden the definition of a grant to include any foreign funds or in-kind support for virtually anything that the government does not approve of, from political activism to analytical work and expert advice. If the law were to pass, no ‘grants’ will be allowed without the government’s express prior approval, and those who receive them otherwise risk being locked up.”
If the law were to pass, no ‘grants’ will be allowed without the government’s express prior approval, and those who receive them otherwise risk being locked up
Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia
“This is nothing but a naked attempt to criminalize in Georgia virtually anything related to independent civil society, political opposition and engagement in public life outside of government control.
“Seeking, using and receiving foreign funding, remuneration or in-kind support is central to the functioning of civil society and is a right protected under international law. The Georgian authorities must drop these legislative proposals and bring the country’s legislation – already way out of sync – fully in line with its international human rights obligations, including the rights to freedom of association and expression.”
Background
On 28 January, the ruling Georgian Dream party announced legislative amendments which it said were aimed at making “significantly more difficult” the “financing of unrest, violence or revolutionary processes in Georgia from abroad.” In practice, these changes would further severely restrict or outlaw access to international or foreign funding or any in-kind support of independent voices. The proposals are expected to be adopted by Parliament after it reconvenes on 3 February.
Beyond expanding the definition of a “foreign grant”, the amendments require prior government approval for a wide range of funding, payment of salaries and consultancy fees, or in-kind support linked to vague and extremely broadly defined “political activity”. Criminal penalties for violations include prison sentences of up to six years, or up to 12 years in aggravated cases (such as involving “money laundering”).
The proposals also criminalize so-called “external lobbying” (presumably, lobbying on any Georgian matters abroad), disallow individuals working for foreign-funded organizations membership in political parties for eight years, and impose criminal penalties on the transfer of funds or other benefits if they are aimed at “influencing” political or public interests in Georgia.
The measures follow earlier waves of repressive legislation targeting media, civil society and political opposition, including the passage of legislation on “foreign influence” that had already imposed undue restrictions on access to foreign funding.
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