More than 100 civil society and media organizations have declared that the Georgian Dream party’s proposed Foreign Agents Registration Act is a “repackaged Russian law” that targets civil society and independent media. They emphasized, “We do not intend to live and work under Russian laws.” The statement stressed that the American FARA law, which the ruling party claims served as the model for the Georgian version, “does not oppose the activities of independent NGOs and free media,” whereas the Georgian law is specifically designed to target both.

In a joint statement, the CSOs and media organizations asserted that “every act of Ivanishvili’s illegitimate parliament that restricts people’s freedoms is anti-Georgian and unconstitutional,” pledging to “remain faithful to the Constitution of Georgia and our mission—to serve the Georgian people.”

“The Ivanishvili regime is trying to suppress any manifestation of freedom,” said Nino Lomjaria, founder of the civil platform Georgian European Orbit, while reading the joint statement. “After the political arrests, raids, and repression of more than 50 people, they now want to leave children and women who are victims of violence unprotected, cut off funding for scientists, young people, and socially vulnerable families, and silence the voices of regions, workers, displaced persons, and people fighting for their rights.”

Baia Pataraia, executive director of Safari, pointed out that the US FARA law does not apply to media organizations and CSOs. “Ivanishvili’s FARA, which falsely claims to be based on the American law, actually mentions NGOs in its explanatory note… Very soon, everyone will see whether this law is truly based on FARA or if it is just a repackaged Russian law. If it starts being used against NGOs, then we will have our answer.”

Ucha Nanuashvili, founder of the Institute for the Study of Democracy, reiterated that the law aligns with Russian interests. “Its primary purpose is to advance Russian influence within Georgia, which is precisely the goal of the Georgian Dream and the actions of the illegitimate government,” he said.

“This law is unconstitutional and anti-Georgian,” he added, emphasizing that NGOs will do everything possible to prevent its implementation for the third time.

On February 24, 2025, the Georgian Dream party introduced a new legislative initiative called the Foreign Agents Registration Act. Georgian Dream majority leader Mamuka Mdinaradze claimed that the bill was an “exact copy” of the American FARA. The proposed legislation would replace Georgia’s existing law on foreign agents. The Georgian Dream-dominated parliament has already passed the bill in two readings.