Ruling party Sec Gen links FARA law to protecting Georgia's interests, preventing interference

Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday defended the recently adopted Foreign Agents Registration Act, stating that the legislation was crucial for safeguarding the country's interests and preventing external interference.

Kaladze’s remarks came in response to a statement from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights, which expressed concerns over the law. The organisation warned that the legislation could negatively impact democratic values and civil liberties in Georgia.

“This legislation is important to protect the country's interests and to prevent anyone from using other countries to channel funds here, create divisions in society, instigate confrontations, organize revolutions, and finance agents”, the official said.

He further stressed that the law was mirroring similar regulations in the United States.

“We are implementing the same approach as in the US. We did not adopt it without reason. Espionage and treason are serious threats to any country”, Kaladze concluded.