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 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.