The Bureau of the Georgian Parliament has registered the draft law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence” prepared by the Power of the People parliamentary faction. According to Interfax, the bill provides for the registration as agents of foreign influence of non-commercial legal entities and mass media, whose income (more than 20%) comes from abroad.
In accordance with the bill, everyone who is considered an agent of foreign influence must be registered in the database of foreign agents of the state register. When registering, it will be necessary to reflect the income received, and organizations-foreign agents will be required to fill out a financial declaration annually.
The bill gives the Ministry of Justice of Georgia the right to conduct an investigation in order to identify an agent of foreign influence.
There are penalties for violating the provisions of the bill. In particular, the organization will be fined 25,000 lari ($9,500) for evading registration as an agent of foreign influence or failing to complete a declaration.
Representatives of opposition parties, non-governmental organizations and the media held a protest in the parliament building on February 20 and demanded that MPs refuse to pass this bill.
Source: Rosbalt
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