Incident
Georgia 'foreign influence' law for media, 2024
Georgia's parliament passed a law requiring media and civil-society groups that receive 20 percent or more of their funding from abroad to register as organizations "serving the interests of a foreign power," over mass street protests and international criticism that the label would be used to marginalize independent outlets.123
What happened
Georgia's parliament passed the "law on transparency of foreign influence" in May 2024, requiring media outlets and non-governmental organizations that receive twenty percent or more of their annual revenue from foreign sources to register with the justice ministry as "organizations serving the interests of a foreign power," subjecting them to additional reporting requirements, inspections and fines of roughly $9,300 for noncompliance. Human Rights Watch's Europe director, Hugh Williamson, said labeling independent groups and media as serving foreign interests was intended to marginalize and stifle critical voices, and called on Georgian authorities to drop the bill. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defended the law as directed at groups he said were trying to "organize a revolution," promote what he called "LGBT propaganda," and "discredit the police, judiciary, and the Georgian Orthodox Church." Mass protests in Tbilisi and statements from United Nations experts condemning the law did not stop its passage.123
What reason was given
Stated justificationPrime Minister Kobakhidze said the law addressed groups attempting to "organize a revolution" and to "discredit the police, judiciary, and the Georgian Orthodox Church."2
What changed for reporting
Independent Georgian outlets that rely on foreign grants faced a stigmatizing official label, new inspections and fines, pressure press-freedom groups said was designed to make continued foreign-funded reporting more difficult.1
Timeline
2024
Who acted
| Name | Role in this incident | Office at the time |
|---|---|---|
| Irakli Kobakhidze | ordered | Prime Minister of Georgia |
| Parliament of Georgia | legislated | National legislature |
Sources
Claims and evidence
Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.
- HRW's Europe director said labeling groups as serving foreign interests was intended to marginalize and stifle critical voices.
By labeling independent groups and media as serving foreign interests, they intend to marginalize and stifle critical voices
Georgia: 'Foreign Influence' Bill Threatens Rights, Human Rights Watch, 2024-05-09.Claim 434, checked 2026-09-22. - Prime Minister Kobakhidze said the law addressed groups he accused of trying to organize a revolution and undermine state institutions.
organize a revolution
Georgia: 'Foreign Influence' Bill Threatens Rights, Human Rights Watch, 2024-05-09.Claim 435, checked 2026-09-22. - HRW said the bill trampled on fundamental rights and should be dropped by Georgian authorities.
The foreign influence bill tramples on fundamental rights and Georgian authorities should drop it.
Georgia: 'Foreign Influence' Bill Threatens Rights, Human Rights Watch, 2024-05-09.Claim 436, checked 2026-09-22.