Georgian Parliament adopted the draft bill On Transparency of Foreign Influence with the third reading at the plenary on Tuesday.
One hundred and sixteen MPs underwent registration, 84 lawmakers voted pro and 30 – con.
The bill requires organizations, including media outlets, which receive more than 20% of their funding from abroad to register with the state as organizations pursuing the interests of a foreign power. It also obliges them to publish annual financial reports.
Evasion of registration as an organization pursuing the interest of a foreign power, or failure to submit a financial declaration provided for by Article 6 of this Law within the period established by the same article shall entail a fine of 25,000 GEL.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili said she would veto the bill noting she would not “enter into any manipulations or games.”
Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze pledged the ruling team’s readiness to carefully consider all legal comments of international partners within the veto procedure.
