Constitutional Court rules against suspending law on transparency of foreign influence until “substantive review”

The Constitutional Court of Georgia on Wednesday ruled against suspending the domestic law on transparency of foreign influence that requires non-commercial entities and media outlets to register as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, while ordering a “substantive review” of the legislative piece.

The Court’s decision came after President Salome Zourabichvili, 112 NGOs and media organisations, 38 opposition MPs, and two additional media groups in August challenged the controversial law in the institution.

The Court ruled against the plaintiffs' motion to suspend disputed norms of the law until the review is complete.

The plaintiffs 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.

The European Union and the United States have also expressed disapproval of the law, leading to suspension or delay of several aid packages to Georgia. The ruling Georgian Dream party has labelled the criticisms as “unfair”.

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze in May asserted the law would provide “strong guarantees” for long-term peace and stability in Georgia, which he claimed was “essential” for the country’s EU integration.