French Ambassador: Transparency should not be used as instrument to limit civil society capacity to operate freely
French Ambassador: Transparency should not be used as instrument to limit civil society capacity to operate freely

French Ambassador to Georgia, Sheraz Gasri on Thursday remarked on the reintroduction of draft Law on Foreign Influence by the ruling Georgian Dream party, saying “transparency should not be used as instrument to limit civil society capacity to operate freely.”

The draft Law was tabled in the Parliament of Georgia on Wednesday with a single difference –  the term “agent of foreign influence” was substituted with “organization pursuing the interests of a foreign power.”

The organizations will be obliged to fill in the annual declaration of financial income. Failure to register or complete the declaration will result in a 25,000 GEL fine.