“Georgian Dream is reaching new heights of authoritarianism and, following chemical poisoning, is now placing the Georgian people under the pressure of financial repression,” the statement by “Lelo - Strong Georgia” says, in response to the package of legislative changes announced today by Georgian Dream.

According to the statement, if implemented, Lelo will challenge the amendments in the Constitutional Court.

“Total repression against the Georgian people - Georgian Dream is reaching new heights of authoritarianism and, following chemical poisoning, is now subjecting the Georgian people to financial repression! Under the newly announced legislative changes, every financial transaction could potentially become punishable, including those carried out from abroad, from the diaspora. Georgian citizens who depend on remittances sent by family members living abroad may at any time become subject to legal prosecution if the authorities deem it necessary.

After banning emigrants from participating in elections, Ivanishvili’s government is now taking their family members hostage as well, effectively depriving them of the right to political and public activity and even of freedom of expression.

Politically bankrupt and having lost its legitimacy, Georgian Dream, as a direct Soviet remnant, has now openly begun financial racketeering of the population, attempting to impose universal obedience through intimidation.

Entrepreneurs have also fallen victim to the repressive legislative package. In particular:

A new administrative offense is being introduced into the Code of Administrative Offenses for business entities that engage in public political activity unrelated to their core entrepreneurial activities.

In the case of committing this ‘offense,’ the Audit Service will fine the business entity 20,000 GEL, and 40,000 GEL for each repeated violation.

The bill announced by Georgian Dream also defines grounds for the inadmissibility of political party membership. Specifically, a person employed under a labor contract by an organization whose annual income consists of more than 20% funding from a foreign power will be prohibited from membership in a political party for 8 years.

With this amendment, Georgian Dream once again violates Georgia’s supreme law, as this provision directly restricts a constitutional right.

“Lelo - Strong Georgia” will challenge these amendments - as it has done with previously adopted unconstitutional legislative changes - first in the Constitutional Court, and then in the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg, activating all available mechanisms to prevent the adoption of this repressive, unconstitutional law,” the statement says.

For information: Georgian Dream plans to implement a series of legislative changes. Amendments will be introduced to the Law on Grants. More specifically, the definition of a grant will be clarified to state that a grant is considered any funds - in monetary or in-kind form - transferred by any person to any person, which are used or may be used, with the belief or intent of influencing the Georgian authorities, state institutions, or any part of society, for activities carried out or to be carried out that aim to shape, implement, or change Georgia’s domestic or foreign policy. This also includes activities stemming from the political or public interests, approaches, or relations of a foreign government or a foreign political party. Receiving such a grant will only be possible with the prior approval of the Government of Georgia.

According to planned amendments to the Criminal Code, violation of the rules established by the Law on Grants will result in a fine, community service of 300 to 500 hours, or imprisonment for up to 6 years.

Criminal liability will also apply to a senior official of a political party who receives foreign funding. This violation will likewise result in a fine, community service of 300 to 500 hours, or imprisonment for up to 6 years.

External lobbying will also become a criminal offense.

In addition, amendments are being made to the Organic Law “On Political Associations of Citizens.” Specifically, a person employed under a labor contract by an organization that receives more than 20% of its annual income from a foreign power will be prohibited from membership in a political party for 8 years.

Furthermore, legislative changes are planned regarding public political activity by business entities: a business entity engaging in public political activity unrelated to its core business operations will be fined 20,000 GEL, and in the case of repeated or subsequent offenses, 40,000 GEL.