In Georgia, an animal shelter is facing a crisis as it worries it has been labeled a ‘foreign agent’ under a new bill passed by the country’s parliament. Sara Kemecsei, who runs the shelter on the outskirts of Tbilisi, has been caring for stray dogs for over a decade, relying on small donations from abroad to provide shelter and find homes for the neglected animals.
The bill, which designates organizations receiving foreign funding as “agents of foreign influence,” has sparked major protests in Georgia. Thousands have taken to the streets, with opposition groups calling it “the Russian law” due to its similarities to legislation used by Vladimir Putin’s Kremlin.
Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, have criticized the bill, threatening sanctions and warning it could hinder Georgia’s path to joining the EU. The Georgian government argues that the law is necessary to protect sovereignty and promote transparency, but many NGO workers fear it will hinder their ability to provide essential services.
Vazha Kasaraishvili, program manager at Tanadgoma, an NGO supporting drug addicts and HIV patients, expressed concerns that the designation could deter foreign donors, jeopardizing their funding. Other NGO workers, like Nino Evgenidze of the Economic Policy Research Center, see the bill as reminiscent of Soviet-era repression and have joined protests against it.
The law’s impact on NGOs like Kemecsei’s shelter and Tanadgoma’s rehabilitation clinic could have far-reaching consequences, potentially forcing them to close down. As the political crisis in Georgia deepens, the future of these vital organizations hangs in the balance.