On 28 January 2026, the Georgian Dream party announced a series of legislative amendments, to be discussed and adopted at the session on February 3, that will significantly curb already restricted civil and political rights and, in general, negatively impact public engagement in society.
The legislative initiative will affect the following laws: the Law on Grants, the Criminal Code of Georgia, the Law on Political Associations of Citizens, the Administrative Offences Code, and other related financial and anti-lobbying regulations – e.g., external lobbying rules and oversight by the State Audit Office. When it comes to changes in the Law on Grants and Criminal Code:
- Expand the definition of 'grants’ to include ‘any funds transferred by any person to any other person in monetary or in-kind form, which are used or may be used, with the belief or intent to exert some influence on the Government of Georgia or on any part of society, for activities carried out or to be carried out that are aimed at shaping, implementing, or changing Georgia’s domestic policy'. This far-reaching definition means also entrepreneurial activities and other forms of economic transfers between Georgian citizens and other countries will now require prior governmental approval.
- This expanded definition will also include any transfers to experts providing knowledge, technical assistance or skills. Therefore hiring individual experts will also require governmental approval.
- The amendments will establish the concept of another state legal entity whose activities substantially involve engagement with issues related to Georgia. It will be determined that such a legal entity may receive funds only after obtaining the government’s consent; otherwise, criminal liability will apply.
- If a representative office, branch, or subdivision of a non-resident legal entity receives a grant, including from the legal entity of which it is a branch, that branch will require the prior consent of the Government of Georgia to receive the grant. The draft law stipulates that receiving a grant without consent by such a branch will result in administrative liability, in the form of a fine equal to double the amount of the illegally received grant.
- According to MP Irakli Kirtskhalia, amendments are also being made to the Criminal Code: criminal liability is established for violations of the rules of the grants law. The sanctions for the violation of these provisions include a fine, 300 to 500 hours of community service, or imprisonment for up to six years. If the activities are tied to money laundering with a political influence aim, the alleged offence will be punished by imprisonment for nine to twelve years.
Other announced, noticeably restrictive changes in laws:
- Criminal liability will be imposed on the head of a political party who receives foreign funding—this will result in imprisonment for up to six years or community service.
- External lobbying also becomes punishable: “The direct or indirect transfer of money, securities, other property, property benefits, or any other advantage to a citizen or legal entity of the state in exchange for conducting activities related to political issues concerning Georgia will result in a fine, community service for a period of 300 to 500 hours, or imprisonment for up to six years.”
- Membership in a political party will be prohibited for eight years for individuals who work in an organisation funded by a foreign state. Amendments are being made to the Law on Political Associations of Citizens: “The draft law establishes grounds for the inadmissibility of political party membership. Specifically, a person who is employed under a labour contract in an organisation whose annual income includes more than 20% received from a foreign power is prohibited from being a member of a political party for eight years.” The financial activities of political party members will be monitored by the State Audit Office.
- The term ‘having a declared electoral goal’ will be replaced with the term ‘having a declared party-political goal,’ which will ensure clarification, expansion, and increased effectiveness of legal regulation. The restrictions provided by legislation that are defined for a political party will also apply to an entity having a declared party-political goal.
- In the event of receiving foreign funding, criminal liability will be established for the head of a political party and for an entity having a declared party-political goal.
- A new administrative offence is introduced into the Administrative Offences Code for entrepreneurial entities carrying out public political activities that are not related to their core business activities. In the case of committing this offence, the State Audit Office will fine the entrepreneurial entity 20,000 GEL, and in the case of repetition or each subsequent offence, 40,000 GEL,” Kirtskhalia said.
While more clarity will emerge once the draft is published, this statement poses a serious threat to freedom of association, freedom of speech, and access to funding, and the overall remaining space for civil society organisations, including any form of public involvement or criticism of the authorities. Any person who receives money from abroad could be labelled as a “grant receiver” and, if they also post politically sensitive content on social media, could be found liable under the Criminal Code.
The definitions, such as “engagement in matters related to Georgia” or “activities connected to Georgian affairs” are so broad and vague that any post or statement criticising any public issue could be considered a violation of the law.
Sources:
- GD Announces New Restrictions on Receiving Grants, Party Membership, ‘External Lobbying’
- Ruling Georgian Dream party proposes new amendments to Law on Grants
This article includes the transcript of the briefing where Kirtskhalia stated that: “The public could clearly see that revolutionary processes in Georgia were funded by USAID, NED, EED, and other foreign foundations. The new US administration ultimately exposed this, revealing American foundations’ involvement in revolutions and systemic corruption in various countries, which led to their closure. As of today, funding for unrest, violence, and revolutionary processes in Georgia from abroad has become significantly more difficult. However, in practice, certain mechanisms and legal loopholes remain, the use of which could cost our country the peace, stability, economic progress, and prosperity that have been preserved through great effort. For this reason, considering our country’s and the Georgian people’s responsibility, we are introducing amendments to legislation so that in the future no one can find an alternative way to fund unrest and violence in Georgia from outside the country.” - https://1tv.ge/lang/en/news/amendments-to-law-on-grants-establish-criminal-liability-and-external-lobbying-becomes-punishable-offence/
- Georgian Dream rolls out new law criminalising any cooperation with foreign foundations