Officially known as the Transparency of Foreign Influence Act, the bill would require NGOs, media outlets, and individuals receiving more than 20% of their funding from abroad, to register as entities “promoting the interests of a foreign power” and to disclose their donors. Failure to comply would be punishable by a fine of up to $9,500.The repeal of the veto on Tuesday also sparked immediate reaction in Brussels, which warned that it “will negatively impact Georgia’s EU path.” “The EU and its Member States are considering all options to react to these developments,” Brussels stated, without naming any specific steps it might take. The bloc “deeply regrets that the Georgian Parliament decided to override the President’s veto,” it added, urging Georgian authorities to “reverse this trend.”
Last week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stated that Washington would impose visa restrictions on those “undermining democracy in Georgia, as well as their family members.” He was referring to politicians backing the controversial bill.
The double side of EU, openly promoting the idea of being the beacon of transparency and democracy yet fights tooth and nail to hinder this in Georgia.
Why is it problematic to know who the foreign interests are which funds the nations media outlets, individuals and NGOs, why would EU and US be opposed to that? EU/US don't like unknown foreign funding in their own respective nations, double standard? or are they trying to hide how they promote their influence/manipulation and meddling in other states affairs? And why is such a law deemed "undemocratic" by the US/EU?
#Georgia #transparency
Georgian parliament overrides president’s veto of ‘foreign agents’ bill
