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Parliament Endorsing Draft Foreign Agents Registration Act in First Reading

Plenary 04 Mar 2025
Parliament Endorsing Draft Foreign Agents Registration Act in First Reading

During the plenary session, Parliament reviewed the Foreign Agents Registration Act, a legislative initiative proposed by the Georgian Dream faction, and approved it in the first reading with 84 votes in favor.

The draft law defines the concepts of "foreign principal's agent" and "foreign power". Additionally, it regulates key issues, including: Registration of an entity as a foreign principal’s agent; Public disclosure requirements for applications and related documents; Annual financial declaration requirements for registered agents; Procedures for deregistering a foreign principal’s agent; Monitoring mechanisms to detect foreign principal’s agents and verify compliance; Criminal liability for failing to register or comply with the law’s requirements.

Archil Gorduladze, Chair of the Legal Issues Committee, presented the bill, emphasizing the necessity for regulations that prevent foreign interference while ensuring financial transparency regarding funds spent in Georgia.

"This draft law is a direct translation of the so-called FARA —the Foreign Agents Registration Act currently in force in the United States. Its purpose is to ensure transparency in foreign funding and related activities. Just as the American people have the right to defend their sovereignty, the Georgian people have an equal right to strengthen their independence and be informed about who is funding which activities", - A. Gorduladze stated.

He further noted that the law has been fully adapted to the Georgian context.

According to A. Gorduladze, the law will be enforced by the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which will serve as the designated public legal entity responsible for oversight.