Georgian Parliament adopts amendments to Law “On Grants”

The Georgian Parliament adopted amendments to the Law “On Grants” in the final third reading, according to which grants can only be received with the permission of the country’s government. Not a single MP has voted against the amendments.

Now, receiving a grant without government’s consent is prohibited. These amendments, for the first time in the Georgia’s modern history, enshrine authoritarianism in law and will lead to the destruction of critical media and the establishment of a dictatorship, media activists claim.

The “Civil.ge” portal reports that the Georgian Anti-Corruption Bureau will monitor the implementation of the Law “On Grants”. It will control the issuance and receipt of grants without consent. In case of violation, the organization that received the grant will be fined twice the amount of the grant.

“These amendments will ensure monitoring of grants that financed unrest and destabilization in the country,” stated Giorgi Kakhiani, Deputy Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, as quoted by the IPN portal.

The “Caucasian Knot” has reported that on April 1, Georgian MPs adopted the “Act on Registration of Foreign Agents”, which introduces the concept of individuals-foreign agents. In addition, the Georgian MPs adopted amendments to the Law “On Broadcasting”, prohibiting TV companies from receiving foreign funding. These initiatives will deprive non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and media of the opportunity to continue working even under other organizational forms, claim the analysts interviewed by the “Caucasian Knot”.