Sokhumi is preparing to adopt the law "On Foreign Agents". Just like in Tbilisi in 2023, the goal of the law in occupied Abkhazia is to silence the opponents. Experts also point out that the "agents" law will block people's access to vital aid.

The de facto president of Abkhazia submitted the draft law "On Agents" to the parliament last week. The draft is similar to the Russian law: it applies to individuals as well as organizations, and provides for imprisonment as a punishment.

The de facto leaders of the occupied region cite the desire to prevent "subversive activities" from the West as the goal of the law. The opposition and civil society fear that the local "authority" has launched an open battle against freedom of speech and expression in order to silence its opponents. In addition to civil society, the Abkhazian law "On Foreign Agents" also has opponents in the de facto parliament. It is expected that the law will not be passed without protests.

In case of adoption of the law:

Both organizations and individuals who receive money or "other property from foreign sources" and are involved in the political life of Abkhazia, including - in accordance with the interests of the funding sources - are declared as foreign agents.

Persons declared as foreign agents may be "citizens of Abkhazia", as well as citizens of foreign countries or stateless persons;

The compilation of the register of agents is provided by the Ministry of Justice. The way to remove an organization from this register is its liquidation;

Accounting reports and incomes of organizations or individuals declared as agents are subject to strict audit;

An organization or a natural person is granted the status of an agent if it receives money or property from foreign countries, state structures, international organizations and their structural divisions; also if the financiers are citizens of foreign countries or natural persons without citizenship;

The status of the agent will not be affected if the financing is received from those countries and/or citizens of those countries that have recognized the so-called Abkhazia. Independence. These persons will not be recognized as agents in their own countries;

The "agent" must declare his status everywhere, including - when addressing "state authorities";

Also, a number of activities are restricted for representatives of organizations or natural persons recognized as agents: teaching activities, organizing or financing rallies, demonstrations, participating in electoral processes, presenting candidates, donating to one or another party, and others. It will also be forbidden to distribute and publish on the Internet expertise on this or that law or normative act if it belongs to a person or organization registered as an "agent".

The document states that for violation of the Law "On Foreign Agents" both administrative and criminal punishment and "imposition of other responsibilities" are provided. In addition, for multiple violations of obligations before the registry, the organization recognized as an agent will be liquidated by the court.