The Georgian Dream Parliament has fast-tracked the adoption of new restrictive laws targeting independent and critical media. These include the ”Foreign Agents Registration Act” [FARA] and amendments to the laws on Broadcasting and Grants. The legislation was passed amidst ongoing repression and violence against activists and journalists.
The new restrictive laws include:
Amendment to the Law on Grants
On April 16, 2025, Georgian Dream passed the amendment to the Law on Grants in its third reading. According to the changes:
- The grant issuer (donor) must seek approval from the Georgian government before issuing a grant to a Georgian organization.
- If a grant recipient accepts funding without this approval, they will be fined double the amount of the grant.
- The Anti-Corruption Bureau is granted additional powers, including the ability to request financial reports from individuals and to conduct interviews.
- The Bureau will also be authorized to request “special category personal data” from public institutions, individuals, and legal entities.
Non-governmental organizations issued a joint statement in response to the amendments to the Law on Grants.
“The law, in its essence and intended outcome, constitutes an act of persecution against the people and aims to leave citizens vulnerable to the punitive system of the ruling party while preventing the international community from offering support” – This is outlined in the statement issued by the NGOs.
Foreign Agents Registration Act [FARA]
On April 1, 2025, the Georgian Dream party parliament approved the “Foreign Agents Registration Act” (FARA).
The new law introduces the term “agent of a foreign principal.” According to the legal definition, this can include, among others, employees of media organizations who “act in Georgia for the benefit or in the interest of a foreign principal.”
Under the law, a registration application must be submitted to the Anti-Corruption Bureau, which is granted broad authority, including the right to request any information deemed necessary for national security or public interest purposes.
Unlike other media-restrictive laws passed by the Georgian Dream parliament, violations of FARA may result not only in financial penalties but also in prison sentences of up to five years.
The adoption of FARA has been widely interpreted as a law that restricts independent civil society organizations and the media:
“Georgian Dream’s intent to adopt FARA—a law that is clearly disproportionate for overseeing media and civil society organizations—due to its harsh criminal enforcement mechanisms and the potential for selective, politically motivated application at the individual level. Members of the ruling party, including Irakli Kobakhidze, Shalva Papuashvili, and Mamuka Mdinaradze, have openly indicated such intentions. Unlike the U.S., where FARA is applied within a system of independent courts and strong protections for freedom of expression and association, Georgian Dream envisions using this American-named law as a tool to damage civil society—without those same safeguards,” according to a statement by the Social Justice Center.
Amendments to the Law on Broadcasting
On April 1, 2025—Georgian Dream passed amendments to the Law on Broadcasting.
According to the amendments, foreign funding of broadcasters was completely banned, and the powers of the regulatory body—the National Communications Commission—were significantly expanded, specifically bringing journalistic professional activity under regulatory scope.
The amended law prohibits broadcasters from receiving direct or indirect funding from a so-called “foreign power”, and also bans the purchase of broadcaster services by foreign powers, except in the case of advertisements or product placement.
Under these changes, broadcasters are prohibited from receiving any form of direct or indirect funding in exchange for airing social advertisements.
According to the law, a “foreign power” is defined as:
a) an entity that is part of a foreign state’s governmental system;
b) a natural person who is not a citizen of Georgia;
c) a legal entity not established under Georgian law;
d) an organizational unit or other type of association of persons founded under foreign or international law.
The amendments also introduce detailed regulations concerning TV and radio broadcasting standards, including provisions on factual accuracy, the right to reply, and additional regulations concerning fairness and impartiality, the inviolability of private life, gathering and transmitting information using covert methods, coverage of armed conflicts, accidents and other emergencies, as well as specific provisions for the protection of minors.
Transparency International Georgia has declared that these laws pose a threat to the existence of independent media with critical editorial positions.
In addition to these laws, in 2024, Georgian Dream enforced the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, also known as the “Russian Law”, which was passed by Georgian Dream despite widespread public opposition and criticism from international actors. This law requires NGOs and media organizations whose 20% or more of income is sourced from foreign organizations to register as entities pursuing the interests of a “foreign power.”
