UN human rights chief, independent experts denounce Georgia’s new ‘foreign agent’ law
The Foreign Influence Transparency Act requires media, non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and other nonprofits to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power.” if they receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad. It was passed on Tuesday.
The adoption sparked protests in the capital Tbilisi and was denounced by the Georgian opposition as an attempt to suppress independent media, civil society, human rights activists and others. government critics.
Cooling effect
Volker Türk, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, said that in passing the law, the government and lawmakers “chose to ignore” warnings issued by human rights defenders and civil society.
“The impacts on freedom of speech and association in Georgia are unfortunate now there is a risk of becoming significant,” he warned.
The registration requirement could also have a chilling effect on civil liberties activists and significantly limit their activities, Türk added.
“Suppressing diverse voices on issues of serious public concern will only further complicate the Government’s ability to respond effectively to the many challenges facing the country,” he said. ground for reasonable policy and legislative measures”.
Guaranteed to be broken
Meanwhile, independent human rights experts also condemned the passage of the law, which they said happened despite assurances after another similar bill was withdrawn last year.
That bill was withdrawn in March 2023, following large-scale protests, and in November, senior government officials and parliamentarians assured the United Nations Special Rapporteur about the situation of human rights defenders that the draft will not be reintroduced.
“We were shocked that even in the face of clear opposition from a significant portion of Georgians, the law was pushed through Parliament with media and civil society representatives denied access to the proceedings chant,” UN Human Rights Council– said the appointment expert.
They also expressed deep concern about the pace of discussion in Parliament, which “seems to have taken place There is no comprehensive, transparent and genuine consultation with civil society, society at large and opposition parties.”
Human rights activists are not enemies of the state
Mr. Türk called for the law to be shelved and asked the authorities to engage in dialogue with the media, civil society organizations and human rights defenders.
Independent experts further warned that if signed into law by the President, it would put Georgia in breach of its human rights obligations, especially regarding freedom of association.
“For Georgia, This is a step in the wrong direction”, experts said.
“Human rights defenders, youth and Peaceful protesters are not enemies of the state”, they emphasized.
Independent rights experts
The experts who issued the call included the Special Rapporteurs on human rights defenders, on the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and on the right to freedom of opinion and expression; as well as an Independent Expert on human rights and international solidarity.
Appointed by the Human Rights Council – the United Nations’ highest intergovernmental forum on human rights – and is part of it. Special proceduresSpecial rapporteurs and independent experts are tasked with monitoring and assessing the rights situation in certain thematic or country situations.
They work voluntarily, are not UN employees and do not receive a salary.
