Georgia's recent foreign influence law, approved by President Mikheil Kavelashvili, creates criminal liabilities for organizations not disclosing foreign funding, mirroring similar legislation across several countries like Kyrgyzstan and Venezuela. This trend encapsulates a broader risk to global press freedom, with each new law leveraging vague terms that can target independent media. While framed as national security measures, these laws permit governments to suppress dissent and manipulate narratives against perceived foreign interference. The subtlety of these laws exposes independent journalists to significant challenges, reminiscent of Russia's notorious foreign agent law, ultimately stifling free expression and independent journalism.
The new law in Georgia, requiring organizations receiving foreign funding to register, reflects a troubling trend in press freedom, as similar laws emerge in multiple countries.
These laws, while ostensibly for national security, are often vague, allowing governments to weaponize them against independent media and NGOs.
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