A new bill mandates government approval for receiving foreign grants, necessitating consent from the government or an authorized representative.

Accepting a grant issued without such approval will be prohibited and will result in liability. The relevant amendments will be incorporated into the Law on Grants, initiated during today’s Bureau session. In light of the amendments, the government will have ten days to express its consent to the disbursement of a grant.

Appeals against the government’s decisions will not halt enforcement. The Anti-Corruption Bureau will oversee the issuance and receipt of unauthorized grants, with recipients facing fines equal to double the amount of the grant received.

Certain exceptions are established within the initiative. The mandatory government approval requirement will not apply to grants from international sports associations, federations, and committees, individual scholarships for secondary and higher education abroad, or grants from international organizations operating in Georgia.