The Legal Issues Committee has reviewed and approved, at first reading under the expedited procedure, a package of legislative amendments to the Organic Law of Georgia on Political Associations of Citizens and related laws.

The draft initiative, submitted by the parliamentary faction Georgian Dream, was presented by the First Deputy Chair of the faction, Irakli Kirtskhalia.

According to the draft law, political parties or individuals with declared electoral goals will no longer be permitted to receive donations in the form of public events such as lectures or seminars from legal entities registered in Georgia or abroad, or from other forms of associations.

As explained by the rapporteur, any grant to be received from such foreign sources must be approved by the Government of Georgia or a designated competent authority. The monitoring of grant reception will be overseen by the Legal Entity of Public Law – the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

Irakli Kirtskhalia clarified that receiving grants without such approval will result in a fine amounting to double the received sum. He noted that the regulation would not apply to individual scholarships or grants awarded abroad for general or higher education and scientific work, or to grants issued by international sports associations or committees: "The current legislation prohibits political parties from receiving donations from legal entities. However, a legislative gap still allows such entities, registered in Georgia or abroad, to interfere in domestic politics by covertly supporting radical opposition groups under the guise of organising free lectures or public seminars - cases which the public has witnessed multiple times".

He emphasised that following the adoption of the amendments, both foreign and Georgian legal entities will be prohibited from funding public events in favour of partisan interests.

The proposed package also introduces a regulated procedure for foreign donor-issued grants. Kirtskhalia explained that Georgian legislation currently recognises a broad spectrum of grant-issuing entities, including foreign governments, their representatives, and international public organisations: "Since a grant is, by definition, the allocation of resources for a specific purpose without compensation, it is essential, in order to safeguard and further strengthen national sovereignty, to require the prior approval of the Government of Georgia or a designated authority".

The rapporteur further explained that the amendments to the Law on Grants are designed to prevent the use of funds, disguised as humanitarian aid, for foreign interference or anti-state activities directed against the interests of the Georgian people.

The Chairman of the Legal Issues Committee, Archil Gorduladze, reiterated that government approval will not be required for grants intended for educational purposes or professional development abroad: “We propose including a provision in the law that, if the received funds in Georgia qualify as a grant requiring approval, the Anti-Corruption Bureau should investigate and, upon confirmation, initiate the legal procedures defined in the proposed legislation, which provides for sanctions in cases of simulated transactions”.

"When we speak about sovereignty, independence, and national identity, it is imperative to safeguard our country`s security. Therefore, it is essential that preventive legal mechanisms are embedded in our legislation—especially in the current geopolitical context facing Georgia", - added Irakli Kirtzkhalia.