**Georgia: Controversial Foreign Agents Law Withdrawn**
On March 24, Georgian Dream withdrew a constitutional complaint filed by President Salome Zurabishvili. The complaint sought to annul the law on foreign agents.
The president had argued that the law was unconstitutional and violated Article 78 of the Georgian Constitution. This article requires Georgia’s constitutional bodies to ensure full integration into the EU and NATO, as well as other constitutional rights.
**Background**
The Foreign Agents Law was passed in May 2024 and required civil society organizations (CSOs) and media outlets that receive at least 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as entities “pursuing the interests of a foreign power”. The law has been met with wide resistance, and many CSOs refused to register.
**New Bill**
On February 24, Georgian Dream registered a new legislative initiative, the Foreign Agents Registration Act. This bill is intended to replace Georgia’s existing law on foreign agents. However, over 100 CSOs have said that this new bill is similar to Russia’s Foreign Agents Law and target independent media and civil society organizations.
**Reactions**
President Zurabishvili had already urged EU leaders to discuss Georgia at the European Council meeting. The Daily Beat has also reported on related news articles, including a story about non-resident ambassadors presenting credentials to President Kavelashvili amid contested legitimacy.
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