Some non-governmental organizations (NGOs) report that on August 11, they received another letter from the Anti-Corruption Bureau accusing them of violating the “Law on the Registration of Foreign Agents” and requesting explanations as to why they have not registered in the “Registry of Foreign Interest Entities.”
According to representatives of the NGOs, they will send legal documentation to the Anti-Corruption Bureau stating that they are not required to register in the respective registry.
“On August 11, six organizations received another letter from the Anti-Corruption Bureau accusing us of violating the so-called ‘Law on the Registration of Foreign Agents,’ threatening us with criminal liability, and requesting explanations as to why we have not registered as agents.
In line with our repeatedly stated public position, we reiterate that we will not register as entities serving the interests of a foreign country. We are independent Georgian non-governmental organizations operating in accordance with our own statutes. Our mission is to protect the rights of women, children, workers, persons with disabilities, internally displaced persons, and all oppressed individuals.
Our mission includes monitoring elections, exposing corruption and disinformation, defending democracy, and assisting the Georgian people. We serve solely and exclusively the interests of our people and Georgia.
Under the standards of the American FARA, which this law supposedly mirrors, we are not required to register in this registry. We will send the corresponding legal documentation to the Ivanishvili-Kuprashvili Bureau regarding this matter.
In the style of Putin’s Russia, the persecution of independent NGOs and free media aims to dismantle democracy. However, we will continue our work and will not leave the Georgian people without support. We will fight until Georgia becomes the free, democratic, and EU-member state that the Georgian people deserve.
We declare once again that we have no intention of living under Russian-style laws and will continue our struggle to protect the rights of the Georgian people,” the statement reads.
The statement is signed by the following non-governmental organizations: “Civil Society Foundation,” “Sapari,” “Transparency International Georgia,” “Media Development Foundation,” “ISFED,” and “Social Justice Center.”
Six non-governmental organizations: We have received a letter from the Anti-Corruption Bureau accusing us of violating the so-called law on the registration of foreign agents and threatening us with criminal liability – we do not intend to live under Russian laws
