Foreign-agent law takes effect in Georgia

TBILISI. Aug 1 (Interfax) - The law on transparency of foreign influence took effect in Georgia on August 1.

The law compels non-governmental organizations and media outlets funded from abroad at over 20% to be registered with the National Agency of Public Register.

The law penalizes evasion of registration as an entity representing the interests of a foreign state with a fine of 25,000 lari (over $9,000).

The precise number of non-governmental organizations in Georgia is unknown, yet Georgian Dream ruling party chair Irakli Garibashvili told reporters there were about 3,000 of them, and most of such organizations had foreign donors.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told reporters earlier that many non-governmental organizations were spending grants on the political activity aimed against the authorities.

The law caused protests of the Georgian opposition and a highly negative reaction of the United States and the European Union, which partially suspended financial assistance to the Georgian government.