**Council of Europe Concerned About Georgia’s Decision**
The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, spoke with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze over the phone. Berset expressed “great regret” about the government’s decision not to work together on amending the Foreign Agents Law.
This is contrary to what was agreed upon during Berset’s visit to Georgia in December 2024. The Council of Europe had sent a formal letter on January 20, asking for the establishment of a joint working group to amend the law. However, Kobakhidze cited “changed circumstances” as the reason for not participating.
The government promised to copy and paste the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and replace the existing Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence with it. They also announced plans to adopt several repressive laws in the coming months.
Berset reiterated his concern about the state of the rule of law, human rights, and the polarized political landscape in Georgia. The Council of Europe will now assess the impact of this new situation. Dialogue between the organization and the Georgian authorities is ongoing.
The Council of Europe’s role is to uphold democracy, the rule of law, and human rights. They have carried out several visits to Georgia since Berset’s visit, including those by PACE co-rapporteurs, the Committee for the Prevention of Torture (CPT), and the Commissioner for Human Rights.
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