The Georgian Parliament, effectively formed by the ruling party, has approved a number of controversial legislative innovations in the third and final reading. These include a “direct copy” of the American FARA, amendments to the Law on Broadcasting, and the return of the article on treason to the Criminal Code.
The document, which the Georgian Dream calls an exact analogue of the American FARA (Foreign Agents Registration Act) and which will replace the current Foreign Influence Transparency Act, was unanimously supported by 86 parliamentarians. Failure to comply with the requirements established by the new law, including the obligation to register as an agent of a foreign principal, will entail criminal liability. The law will enter into force 60 days after it is signed by President Mikheil Kavelashvili, appointed by the ruling party.
In addition, 86 MPs also spoke in favor of introducing legislative changes that provide for new restrictions in the media sphere. In particular, the first package of amendments to the Law on Broadcasting prohibits direct and indirect foreign funding for television and radio channels, and this even applies to social advertising. The second part of the amendments defines standards for content on air, as well as on the websites of television and radio companies and their pages on social networks. Earlier, the ruling party announced plans to develop a similar bill for online media.
And finally, the Georgian Parliament approved the return of Article 307 to the Criminal Code, abolished in 2006. Its new name is "Treason". According to this article, treason will be considered, among other things, violation of the territorial integrity of the country, negotiation of an unconstitutional agreement, disclosure of state secrets, espionage, conspiracy or rebellion with the aim of violently changing the constitutional order of Georgia, providing assistance to a foreign state or a foreign organization controlled by it in hostile activities. It is noteworthy that the Criminal Code of Georgia, even without amendments, provides for punishment for all of the listed actions.
At a special briefing held on April 1, the fifth President of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili stated that the repressions of the Georgian Dream are reaching a new level and a coordinated response from the opposition is needed. According to her, the coordination of opposition parties announced the previous evening has already taken place. Zurabishvili did not specify what exactly it consists of and who participated in the discussions. However, she recalled that on April 7, the Council of Europe intends to adopt a tough resolution on Georgia, the key issue of which will be the release of political prisoners.
