Next week, Parliament will review the legislative package proposed by Georgian Dream, which, if enacted, will prohibit international organizations from organizing lectures, seminars, or other similar public events for political parties.

The same package also stipulates that international donors will no longer be able to issue grants without government approval.

On April 14, the Georgian Dream legislative package will be reviewed in its first reading by the Legal Affairs Committee. After that, it will be submitted to a plenary session.

The proposed changes amend the Law on Political Associations of Citizens, the Law on Grants, and other related laws.

According to the draft amendments to the Law on Political Associations of Citizens, international organizations will no longer have the right to organize lectures, seminars, or other public events for political parties.

Under the current law, political parties are prohibited from receiving donations from individuals who are not Georgian citizens and from legal entities or other types of associations registered either in Georgia or abroad—except when it comes to organizing lectures, seminars, or similar public events free of charge. The current law also specifies that these restrictions do not apply to international organizations or legal entities whose goal is the institutional development of political parties and who do not support or oppose any specific political force.

The new bill removes this exemption from the Law on Political Associations of Citizens.

Regarding the grant-related initiative, receiving a foreign grant will require the approval of the government or an authorized person designated by it. Receiving a grant without such approval will be prohibited and will result in liability.

According to the proposed amendments to the Law on Grants, the government will have a 10-day deadline to issue a decision on whether to approve the grant. Filing an appeal against the government's decision will not suspend its enforcement.

The same bill designates the Anti-Corruption Bureau to monitor the issuance and receipt of prohibited grants. Receiving a prohibited grant will result in the recipient being fined twice the amount of the grant.

The draft law also defines certain exceptions. Specifically, the requirement for mandatory government approval will not apply to grants issued by international sports associations, federations, and committees; individual scholarships awarded for secondary or higher education abroad or for scientific research; and grants received by international organizations operating in Georgia.