Draft Law on Registration of Foreign Agents and Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence - Documents 2023-2024

International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN) presents the original documents on the draft law "on the Registration of Foreign Agents" (2023) and the law "on the Transparency of Foreign Influence" (2024). Presented materials were initiated, discussed and published (uploaded on the official website) by the Parliament of Georgia during February-March 2023 and April-May 2024.

The majority of these documents were downloaded from the website of the Parliament of Georgia: www.parliament.ge

In the begining of April 2024, it was still possible to find them on the website of the Parliament of Georgia. However, as of today, access to most of these historically important documents on the website of the Parliament of Georgia is limited.

2024 THE LAW ON TRANSPARENCY OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE IS SIGNED by Parliament of Georgia

2024, June 3 - Georgian Parliament Speaker formally signed the domestic law on Transparency of Foreign Influence.

"Today, I signed the law on transparency of foreign influence, the primary objective of which implies the enhancement of the resilience of the political, economic and social systems of Georgia without external interventions" - Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia.

2024 OSCE/ODIHR Urgent Opinion on the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence

2024, May 30 - The Urgent Opinion was prepared by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) following a request from the Deputy Chairpersons of the Defense and Security Committee and of the Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules of the Parliament of Georgia.

"Georgia’s newly approved law “on Transparency of Foreign Influence” contains serious deficiencies that make it incompatible with international human rights standards and the country’s commitments as an OSCE state, and it should be rescinded" - ODIHR said in a published legal analysis.

Parliament of Georgia discussing the President Veto on the law on the Transparency of Foreign Influence

2024, May 28 - Plenary Session of the Parliament of Georgia, voting results.

The original (May 14, 2024) edition of the Law of Georgia "On Transparency of Foreign Influence".

Document Link of the website of the Parliament of Georgia: https://info.parliament.ge/file/1/BillReviewContent/362771

2024, May 28 - Plenary Session of the Parliament of Georgia, voting results.

Discussion of the veto ("motivated remarks") of the President of Georgia on the law of Georgia "On transparency of foreign influence".

Document Link of the website of the Parliament of Georgia: https://info.parliament.ge/file/1/BillReviewContent/362770

2024, May 27 - Letter to the Office of the Secretariat of the Parliament of Georgia.

2024, May 27 - Decision of the Legal Issues (Leading) Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

2024, May 27 - The the veto ("motivated remarks") of the President of Georgia, the document was submitted to the Parliament of Georgia on 18.05.2024.

2024, May 27 - The original revision of the Law of Georgia "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" No. №4156-XIVმს-Xმპ of May 14, 2024 (No. 07-1/32/10, 18-05-2024).

2024, May 27 - Annex (Opinion, OSCE-ODIHR, as of 25 July 2023).

Link to the website of the Parliament of Georgia: https://info.parliament.ge/file/1/BillReviewContent/362577

May 27, 2024 - Decision of the Legal Issues (Leading) Committee of the Parliament of Georgia on the veto ("motivated remarks") of the President of Georgia on the Law of Georgia "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" (N07-1/32; 18.05.2024).

2024, May 27 - The Legal Issues Committee rejected the Veto of the President to the law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, Parliament of Georgia.

2024, May 18: President Zourabichvili Vetoed the Russian Law

2024, May 18 - The President of Georgia vetoed the Russian law. N3387. 18.05.2024.

"Today, I vetoed the Russian law. This law, in its essence and spirit, is fundamentally Russian, contradicting our constitution and all European standards. It thus represents an obstacle to our European path. This law must be repealed!" - H.E. Salome Zourabichvili, President of Georgia.

Link of the website of The President of Georgia: https://president.ge/index.php?m=206&appeals_id=396

2024, May 20 - The the veto ("motivated remarks") of the President of Georgia published on the website of the Parliament of Georgia. PDF 43654 with the seal of the Organizational Department of the Parliament of Georgia.

Document Links of the website of the Parliament of Georgia:

https://parliament.ge/legislation/28582

https://info.parliament.ge/file/1/BillPackageContent/43654

2024, April-May: The Foreign Influence Transparency Law

For the I Hearing

2024, April 3 - Reinitiation of the bill in the Parliament of Georgia, a letter.

2024, April 8 - Decision of the Bureau of the Parliament of Georgia.

The Parliament of Georgia, website link: https://info.parliament.ge/file/1/BillReviewContent/360018

2024, April 8 - Decision of the Bureau of the Parliament of Georgia on the commencement of consideration of the draft law.

2024, April 8 - Decision of the Legal Department of the Parliament of Georgia.

The parliament of Georgia, website link: https://info.parliament.ge/file/1/BillPackageContent/43113

2024, April 8 - Decision of the Budget Office of the Parliament of Georgia.

2024, April 15 - The Agenda of meeting of the Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

The Parliament of Georgia, website link: https://parliament.ge/media/announcement/2799?local=true

2024, April 16 - A letter to the Secretariat of the Parliament of Georgia.

2024, April 16 - A Header.

2024, April 16 - Explanatory Note.

2024, April 16 - Draft Law.

    2024, April 16 - Draft law approved by the Responsible Person of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, April 16 - Draft Resolution of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, April 16 - Decision of the Legal Issues (Leading) Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

      Media Information of the Parliament of Georgia: THE LEGAL ISSUES COMMITTEE APPROVED THE DRAFT LAW ON TRANSPARENCY OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE, 15 April, 2024

      2024, April 16 - I hearing of the draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” in the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, April 17 - Voting results of the first hearing of the draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” in the Parliament of Georgia.

      For the II Hearing

      2024, April 29 - Meeting Agenda of the Legal Issues (Leading) Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, April 30 - Draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence”.

      2024, April 30 - Draft law approved by the responsible person of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, May 1 - Voting results of the II Hearing in the Parliament of Georgia.

      For the III Hearing

      2024, May 13 - Meeting Agenda of the Legal Issues (Leading) Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, May 13 - Resolution of the Legal Issues (Leading) Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, May 14 - A letter to the Secretariat of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, May 14 - A Header.

      2024, May 14 - Draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence”.

      2024, May 14 - Draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” approved by the responsible person of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024, May 14 - Document of Remarks.

      2024, May 14 - The Final Version of the draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence”.

      2024, May 14 - Voting Results of the III Hearing in the Parliament of Georgia.

      2024 VENICE COMMISSION (EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW)

      2024, 13 May - GEORGIA: DRAFT LAW ON TRANSPARENCY OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE, provided by the Georgian Authorities on 25 April 2024. CDL-REF(2024)021, Strasbourg.

      2024, May 21 - GEORGIA: URGENT OPINION ON THE LAW ON TRANSPARENCY OF FOREIGN INFLUENCE, CDL-PI(2024)013, EUROPEAN COMMISSION FOR DEMOCRACY THROUGH LAW (VENICE COMMISSION).

      "... 100. In conclusion, the Venice Commission strongly recommends repealing the Law in its current form, as its fundamental flaws will involve significant negative consequences for the freedoms of association and expression, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public affairs as well as the prohibition of discrimination. Ultimately, this will affect open, informed public debate, pluralism and democracy".

      2023 February-March: Draft Law on Registration of Foreign Agents

      2023, February 22 - Letter on initiation of the Foreign Agent law in the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, February 27 - Decision of the Bureau of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, February 27 - Decision 2 of the Bureau of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, February 27 - Decision of the Legal Department of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, February 27 - Decision of the Budget Office of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, March 2 - The Foreign Relations and the Defense and Security Committees joint discussion of the Draft Law on Registration of Foreign Agents, and the Draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence.

      Media and society of the Parliament of Georgia website link: https://parliament.ge/en/media/news/sagareo-urtiertobata-da-tavdatsvisa-da-ushishroebis-komitetebis-gaertianebul-skhdomaze-parlamentis-tsevrebis-mier-initsirebuli-kanonproektebi-ganikhiles

      2023, March 5 - Resolution of the Committee on Defense and Security of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, March 6 - Draft Law on Registration of Foreign Agents.

      2023, March 6 - Explanatory note.

      2023, March 6 - Draft law approved by responsible person of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, March 6 - The Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia discussed with the I reading the Draft Law on Registration of Foreign Agents and the Draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence.

      The Draft is initiated by MPs Sozar Subari, Mikheil Kavelashvili, Dimitri Khundadze, Guram Macharashvili, Victor Japaridze, Irakli (Dachi) Beraia, Eka Sepashvili, David Kacharava and Zaal Mikeladze.

      The Committee approved both Drafts.

      2023, March 7 - The Header, I hearing in the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, March 7 - Resolution of the Legal Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, March 7 - Letter to the Secretariat of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023, March 9 - Withdrawal letter of draft laws to the Secretariat of the Parliament of Georgia.

      2023 OSCE/ODIHR Note of the Legislative Initiatives on Transparency and Regulation of Associations Funded from Abroad of So-called Foreign Agents Laws

      2023, July 25 - Note on legislative initiatives on transparency and regulation of associations funded from abroad or so-called “foreign agents’ laws” and similar legislation and their compliance with international human rights standards. Opinion-Nr.: NGO-GEO/465/2023 [JB].

      The OSCE/ODIHR, on the basis of the Public Defender's requests of February 24 and March 6, prepared a legal report on the so-called "foreign agents" draft laws initiated in the Parliament of Georgia in February 2023 and negatively evaluated the said initiatives.

      Suggested APA citation of this page:

      Tsikhistavi-Khutsishvili, N. (Ed.). (2024). Draft Law on Registration of Foreign Agents and Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence - Documents 2023-2024. International Center on Conflict and Negotiation (ICCN). Retrieved /month, date, year/ from http://www.iccn.ge/index.php?article_id=585&clang=1