Six-Year Imprisonment and Disqualification from Political Rights for Recipients of Foreign Funding -

On 28 January 2026, the ruling party "Georgian Dream” announced another package of restrictive legislative amendments affecting six different laws. The amendments criminalize the activities of organizations receiving foreign funding without prior government approval. They also prohibit individuals employed by such organizations from joining political parties and therefore from exercising their passive electoral right (the right to stand for election) for a period of eight years. Once these amendments enter into force, even organizations registered abroad will require prior authorization from the Government of Georgia if their activities involve work on issues related to Georgia. Failure to obtain such authorization may result in criminal liability of up to six years’ imprisonment. Although the declared aim is to "protect the country from unrest, violence, and revolution”, the practical effect appears to be the suppression of independent civil society and media organizations through the threat of criminal prosecution.