Georgia Animal Shelter Concerned About Being Labeled as ‘Foreign Agent’ | Global News

In Georgia, an animal shelter is facing a crisis as it worries about being labeled a “foreign agent” under a new bill passed by the country’s parliament. Sara Kemecsei, who has been running the shelter for over a decade, is concerned that her small facility could be designated as an “agent of foreign influence” due to the donations it receives from abroad.

The bill has sparked a major political crisis in Georgia, with thousands taking to the streets in protest. Opposition groups have compared the legislation to similar laws in Russia used to target critics of the government. Western countries, including the United States and the European Union, have criticized the bill, threatening sanctions and raising concerns about Georgia’s path to joining the EU.

NGO workers in Georgia fear that the law will hinder their ability to provide essential services that the state fails to offer. Vazha Kasaraishvili, program manager at Tanadgoma, an NGO that supports drug addicts and HIV patients, worries that the designation as a “foreign agent” could deter international donors from supporting their work.

Many NGO workers, including Nino Evgenidze, head of a think tank, have been actively protesting against the bill, seeing it as a threat to their organizations. They view the legislation as reminiscent of Soviet-era repression and are determined to fight against it.

The Georgian government argues that the bill is necessary to protect sovereignty and promote transparency, but NGO workers like Kemecsei fear that the new law will impose heavy administrative costs and potentially force their shelters to close down. The future of NGOs in Georgia remains uncertain as the country grapples with the implications of this controversial legislation.