Public Outcry over the Proposed “Foreign Agents” Law

Georgian professionals, opinion-makers, civil society organizations, and professional associations reacted to the proposed law on “foreign agents” and discussed the unfavorable consequences that will result from its adoption.

Opinion leaders

• Academician Rismag Gordeziani;
• Film director Lana Gogoberidze;
• Linguist and academician Mzeqala Shanidze;
• Georgian writer and poet Besik Kharanauli;
• Novelist, playwright, and theater director Nino Kharatishvili;
• Poet Rati Amaglobeli;
• Theoretical physicist Gia Dvali;
• Operatic bass and civil activist Paata Burchuladze;
• Writer Dato Turashvili;
• General director of the National Parliamentary Library of Georgia and poet Giorgi Kekelidze;
• Visual artist Levan Songulashvili;
• Musician Nika Machaidze;
• Civil education teacher Lado Apkhazava;
• Writer, film director, and screenwriter Aleko Shugladze;
• Singer Giorgi Ushikishvili;
• Fiction writer Archil Kikodze;
• Novelist and playwriter Lasha Bugadze;
• Historian, and archaeologist Iulon Gagoshidze;
• Blogger, activist Lamara Abzhandadze;
• Pediatrician, and allergist Bidzina Kulumbegovi;
• Georgian-born Serbian wrestler Zurab Datunashvili;
• Former First Spouse of Georgia Maka Chichua;
• Singer Nino Katamadze;
• Visual artist Rusudan Petviashvili;
• Historian Lasha Baqradze;
• Former Minister of Environmental Protection and former Ambassador of Georgia to Germany Elguja Khokrishvili;
• Rector of Tbilisi State Conservatory Nana Sharikadze;
• Musician Tamada;
• Comedian, TV presenter Giorgi Janelidze;
• Philologist Levan Berdzenishvili;
• Former judge of the Constitutional Court Maia Kopaleishvili;
• Writer, TV presenter Dato Gorgiladze;
• The national football team and Rangers FC star Shota Arveladze;
• Georgia’s Former Ambassador to Germany, Elguja Khokrishvili;
• Photographer Goga Chanadiri;
• Opera singer Giorgi Gagnidze;
• Singer Giorgi Sukhitashvili;
• CEO at FC Locomotive Tbilisi Giorgi Kipiani;
• Actor Nika Tavadze;
• Blogger Guram Sharozia;
• Blogger, traveler Soso Nebieridze;
• Rector of Ilia State University Nino Doborjginidze;
• Businessman Temur Chkonia;
• Deputy Rector of Tbilisi State University Nino Okribelashvili;
• TV “Imedi” Journalist Keti Partskhaladze;
• Historian Gocha Saitidze;
• The former head of the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) Amiran Gamkhrelidze;
• Chef Misha Avsajanishvili;
• Business consultant, and TV presenter Davit Gogichaishvili;
• Actress Nino Kasradze;
• Doctor, actor, and TV presenter Otar Tatishvili;
• Alpinist Bidzina Gujabidze;
• Conductor and composer Nikoloz Rachveli;
• Head of Business Development at “Qari Electric” Daniel Doinitsini;
• Dean of the School of Economics of Caucasus University Soso Berikashvili;
• Businessman and president of “Dinamo Tbilisi” Roman Pipia;
• The founder of the car technology service provider company “Caru” Nika Abashidze;
• Novelist and playwriter Lasha Bugadze;
• Founder of August War Museum in Ergneti village Lia Chlachidze;
• Singer Stepane Mgebrishvili;
• Actress and film director Keti Dolidze;
• TV “Imedi” Journalist of the Washington Bureau Rusa Shelia;
• TV “Imedi” journalist and TV presenter Tea Sichinava;
• Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili;
• Basketball player Zaza Pachulia;
• April 9 Fighter Mari Nana Makharadze;
• Archpriest Ilia Chigladze;
• Archpriest Tamaz Lomidze;
• Actor Kakha Kintsurashvili;
• Football player Khvicha Kvaratskhelia;
• Ambassador of Georgia to France Gocha Javakhishvili;
• Georgian Olympic athlete, weightlifter Giorgi Asanidze;
• Captain of National Rugby Team Merab Sharikadze;
• Mixed martial artist and former kickboxer Giga Chikadze;
• Basketball player Tornike Shengelia;
• Professional arm-wrestler Levan Saginashvili;
• Archpriest Zaza Tevzadze;
• Football player Giorgi Mamardashvili;
• Football player Zuriko Davitashvili;
• Ambassador of Georgia to Turkey Giorgi Janjgava;
• Captain of the Georgian national rugby team Merab Sharikadze;
• Archpriest Petre Kvarackhelia;
• The first bishop of the Diocese of Georgia in North America Saba Intskirveli;
• Farmer, businessman Beka Gonashvili;
• Film directed Avtandil Varsimashvili;
• Writer and head of “Caucasian House” Naira Gelashvili;
• Football player Giorgi Tsitaishvili;
• Basketball player Sandro Mamukelashvili;
• Captain of Georgia’s National Football Team Guram Kashia;
• Rector of Tbilisi State University Jaba Samushia;
• Director of “Knowledge Fund” Anastasia Bendukidze;
• Singer Nodiko Tatishvili;
• Chancellor of TSU Lasha Saghinadze;
• Journalist of the Europe Bureau of TV Company “Imedi” Ketevan Kardava;
• Basketball player Giorgi Shermadini;
• Composer Rusudan Sebiskveradze;
• “Imedi” TV host Bakhva Bregvadze;
• Senior official of the Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture Karlo Amirgulashvili;
• Historian Beka Kobakhidze;
• UFC fighter Merab Dvalishvili;
• Head of “Georgian Transport and Roads Association” Davit Meskhishvili;
• Head of the shepherds’ association Beka Gonashvili;
• Former head of tourism administration Maia Sidamonidze;
• Film director Data Tavadze;

Organizations

• Association of Communication Agencies of Georgia;
• Georgian Publishers and Booksellers Association;
• Evangelical-Baptist Church of Georgia;
• Councils of Religions and of National Minorities at the Public Defender’s Office;
• National Teacher Award;
• Georgian Farmers’ Association;
• Young European Ambassadors of Georgia;
• Heritage Platform;
• ICON•S Georgia;
• Writer’s House;
• Georgian Trade Union Confederation;
• Georgian National Platforms;
• Knowledge Cafe;
• Women’s Information Сenter;
• Business Associations (AMCHAM, EBA, Europe-Georgia Business Council, German Business Association);
• Georgian Bar Association;
• Civic Education Lecturers Association and Teachers’ Forum;
• Social Workers’ Union;
• Club Khidi;
• Organizations working on the rights of conflict victims;
• Organizations working on women’s rights and gender equality;
• Trainers’ Association;
• FC Gagra;
• FC Dinamo Tbilisi;
• FC Zestaponi;
• Union of Georgian wineries;
• Administration of All Muslims of Georgia;
• Kolga Tbilisi Photo;
• Tbilisi International Film Festival and its Organizer;
• Tbilisi Open Air/AlterVision;
• Winemakers;
• Women for Tomorrow;
• Association of Legal Firms of Georgia;
• Rock band “Ara”;
• The Band “Bedford Falls”;
• Visual and Performing Arts Center “Open Space”;
• Export Development Association;
• NESVI production;
• Georgian Rugby Union;
• Georgian Institute of Public Affairs (GIPA);
• Bar “Meoba”;
• Georgian National Ballet “Sukhishvili”;
• Vaso Abashidze State New Theater;
• Oktopus Fitness Club;
• Giorgi Chubinashvili National Research Center of Georgian Art History and Monument Protection;
• Georgian Public Opinion Research Association;
• Club of the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy in Georgia;
• Union of medical associations;
• Eastern European University;

Joint Letters

• Representatives of the Theater Field;
• Youth Representatives at the United Nations;
• Former Officials from the Georgian Dream;
• Professors and Researchers from 26 Universities;
• Over 60 online media outlets;
• 300 CSOs and media;
• Erasmus Students and Graduates;
• Students of TSU;
• Georgian Youth with Disabilities;
• Georgian Udis;
• 2020-2024 Participants of the Fulbright Foreign Student Program of the U.S. Department of State;
• CSOs from Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region;
• The crew of the TV show “Ketilebi”;
• The crew of the TV show “Khelovnuri Suntqva”;
• Former deputies of “Georgian Dream”;
• The crew of the TV show “Wignebis Taro”;
• Georgian students and graduates of Swedish universities;
• Representatives of the medical field;
• The crew of the TV show “Kacebi”;
• “What? Where? When? ”Super League players;
• Travel Agencies;
• Female chess players;
• Scholars of the International Center of Education;
• Students of Kutaisi International University;
• Oxford University Georgian Society and its friends;
• Youth organizations operating in Georgia;
• Civil servants of the Constitutional Court;
• Students of International Black Sea University;
• Foreign and Security Policy Field Professionals;

Additionally, community organizations in Kvemo Kartli and residents of Achara have urged the majority MPs not to support the draft law.

This list is constantly updated.

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