The Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, states that the law “On the Registration of Foreign Agents” does not comply with the criteria of legality, legitimacy, necessity and proportionality. This is noted in a press release distributed by the Council of Europe.

The press release notes that the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, today published his written comments on the case “Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and Others v. Georgia,” which is currently being considered by the European Court of Human Rights. The Council explains that the case concerns Georgia’s 2025 law “On the Registration of Foreign Agents,” which requires that natural and legal persons who “carry out political activity on behalf of a foreign principal” register as “agents of a foreign principal.”

“In the written comments, the Commissioner states that the law constitutes part of a broader pattern of restrictions directed against the freedoms of expression and association of civil society. He considers that the provisions of the law do not comply with the criteria of legality, legitimacy, necessity and proportionality, taking into account Articles 10(2) and 11(2) of the European Convention on Human Rights. In addition, the Commissioner notes that several aspects of the law do not correspond to its declared aim, which implies ensuring the transparency of the funding of civil society organisations,” the press release notes.