Georgia’s parliament speaker signs ‘foreign influence’ bill into law

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili signed the “foreign influence” bill into law, local media reported on Monday.

“I would like to thank the Georgian people, who once again showed wisdom, did not give in to the flood of lies and hatred and showed everyone at home and abroad that there is only one side, the side of Georgia,” Georgia’s public broadcaster 1TV quoted Papuashvili as saying.

Last Wednesday, Papuashvili said that he would sign the bill into law in line with the country’s legislation if President Salome Zourabichvili refused to do so.

His remarks came a day after the Georgian parliament overrode Zourabichvili’s veto of the bill passed by parliament last month.

The law on Transparency of Foreign Influence requires organizations, including media outlets, which receive more than 20% of their funding from overseas, to register with the state. It also requires them to publish annual financial reports.

The law, which was first introduced in March 2023, was shelved after it triggered mass protests that resulted in the arrest of 66 people and the injury of more than 50 law enforcement officers but was reintroduced to parliament in April, reigniting the protests.

Critics say the law would undermine democracy, labeling it a "Russian law," but members of the ruling majority argue it would increase transparency.