Deputy Justice Minister says 469 entities have applied to register as organisations “pursuing interests of foreign power”

Tamar Tkeshelashvili, the First Deputy Minister of Justice of Georgia, on Monday told Imedi TV 469 organisations had voluntarily applied for registration as groups “pursuing interests of foreign power” at the National Agency of Public Registry of the Ministry.

Tkeshelashvili, the curator of the Registry, said the final number of the organisations would be announced later today, and emphasised the body’s efforts by saying it was “very eager and committed” for cooperation with the entities.

She also noted she could not make public areas of activity of the organisations or their sources of funding until their registration was completed.

It is one thing to apply [for registration], and the other is the responsibility of our Agency to check if the information they have provided to us in the relevant application [...] is accurate”, she said.

She noted the deadline for voluntarily applying to the registry was passing today, adding mandatory application would be put into place for organisations after the date.

In case of registration, organisations continue their activities as usual and they are not subject to any financial sanctions. In case of non-registration, they will be fined, but they will still continue their activities until they can pay the fines”, the Deputy Minister said.

The official emphasised compliance with the law “does not create any harm or danger” for the organisations.

Tkeshelashvili also commented on four lawsuits against the law on Transparency of Foreign Influence by saying the arguments of the complainant parties were “political”, adding they were “trying to use the court for making political statements”.

There has been a very significant attempt to mislead the public, spread misinformation, and manipulate certain matters. It was presented as if those who register [based on the law] do so only out of fear. There has been an attempt from them to speak on behalf of the whole public”, she alleged.

The law, passed by the Parliament in May, requires non-commercial entities and media outlets in the country to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.

The four lawsuits against the law include submissions by President Salome Zourabichvili, 112 non-governmental organisations and media organisations, 38 opposition MPs, and two additional media groups. They argue the law infringes on rights to personal development, privacy, and freedom of information and conflicts with Georgia's European and Euro-Atlantic integration goals.