U.S. Senator Steve Daines meeting Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze just as the controversial law takes effect. (gov.ge)

TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s new ‘FARA’ law took effect on May 31, requiring organizations, media outlets and individuals to register as “agents of a foreign principal” if they engaging in advocacy for foreign actors. Failure to comply could result in fines or up to five years in prison.

The ruling Georgian Dream (GD) party defends the law as a transparency measure modeled after the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). Critics, however, contend that the Georgian version is full of ambiguities and could be used to stifle dissent and weaken civil society.

This new legislation complements another ‘foreign agents’ law, that was finally passed in 2024, which triggered mass protests and widespread international condemnation. Critics point out that unlike the 2024 law, which was dubbed ‘the Russian law’, the FARA law targets not only organizations (NGOs), but also individuals, and it carries criminal liability, something the previous one did not — a point touted by GD officials.

Political tensions have remained high since the disputed October 2024 parliamentary election, with major opposition parties boycotting parliament and refusing to recognize President Mikheil Kavelashvili’s legitimacy. Many still consider former President Salome Zourabichvili, who stepped down in December, as the rightful head of state.

Further highlighting the entrenched positions in the rift between the government and its opponents, opposition leader Nika Melia was detained on May 29 for allegedly insulting police officers. While officials insist the arrest was legal, opposition figures decried it as politically motivated, similar to a long list of cases over the last few years which are habitually referred to as ‘political prisoners’ by opposition groups.

While Georgia’s party politics remains in a logjam, U.S. Senator Steve Daines visited Tbilisi, meeting both Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and opposition leaders. He emphasized Georgia’s strategic importance in regional stability and called for deepened cooperation with the United States.

According to the U.S. Embassy, Senator Daines is delivering messages from President Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focusing on strengthening bilateral ties and advancing shared security and economic interests.