Council of Europe Commissioner calls on Georgian authorities not to adopt law on foreign agents

If the bill on foreign agents is adopted in Georgia, it will negatively affect the work of the media and NGOs, including those working in the field of human rights and democracy. This was stated in a letter from Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Michael O'Flaherty addressed to the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili.

“I respectfully ask members of Parliament to refrain from passing the Foreign Influence Transparency Bill.” I ask you to cooperate with local and international partners, including the Council of Europe, in order to ensure favorable conditions for the legitimate work of non-profit organizations and the media,” the letter says.

In the appeal, Michael O'Flaherty writes that he is concerned about the incompatibility of the initiative of the ruling Georgian Dream party with human rights standards.

In Tbilisi, residents protest against the “pro-Russian” law on foreign agents. The Parliament of Georgia is holding hearings on its adoption. The law provides for the appearance of a register in which all non-profit legal entities and media outlets financed by more than 20% from abroad will be entered.

Последние новости
Putin cited Ramzan Kadyrov's large family as a role model
Society
Putin cited Ramzan Kadyrov's large family as a role model
19 December 2025

During the annual "Year in Review" press conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin, responding to a question about support for young families, noted the tradition of early marriages in the North Caucasus. He said he believed this was "right" and suggested "following their example," citing Ramzan Kadyrov's large family.
Adam Kadyrov blamed preachers of nationalist hatred for the murder of a Tajik boy
Society
Adam Kadyrov blamed preachers of nationalist hatred for the murder of a Tajik boy
19 December 2025

Following the murder of 10-year-old Kobiljon Aliyev, a boy from a Tajik family, at a school near Moscow, Adam Kadyrov, the son and aide of the head of Chechnya, stated that the tragedy was not an isolated incident, but the result of a "systemic problem."
Georgia Accuses the European Union of Undermining the Country's Sovereignty
Politics
Georgia Accuses the European Union of Undermining the Country's Sovereignty
19 December 2025

Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili criticized the statement by European Union Foreign Minister Kaja Kallas that the European Union supports the Georgian people, but not the country's government.
The European Parliament condemned the rise in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
Human rights
The European Parliament condemned the rise in the number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan
19 December 2025

The European Parliament adopted a resolution condemning the arbitrary arrests and sentences handed down to Azerbaijani scholars Bahruz Samadov and Igbal Abilov. The resolution expresses concern over the growing number of political prisoners in Azerbaijan, which, according to the European Parliament, has reached 400.