TBILISI, DFWatch–Georgia’s ruling party has proposed new amendments to the country’s grant law, expanding the definition of what constitutes a foreign grant and reinforcing government control over external funding.
The revised legislation, presented to parliament for a second reading, deals how to categorize technical assistance, such as training, equipment, and expert consultations, from foreign governments or international organizations as grants.
Additionally, defense and security have been added to the list of sectors eligible for grants, while the legal basis for grant agreements has been broadened to include unilateral written decisions by foreign donors.
Though EU programs like Horizon Europe and Erasmus+ will be exempt from requiring government approval, most other foreign-funded grants must now be authorized by the state. Unauthorized grant acceptance remains prohibited.
Critics argue the changes aim to suppress dissent and restrict resources for independent organizations. “This is about bringing everything under state control,” said analyst Vakhtang Dzabiradze, warning that the new measures may limit civil society’s ability to operate freely.
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