2024-07-18 08:33:20
Rashad Aliyev
If you live in a country with no independent and free media left, it is very difficult for you to find quality and honest analysis on such important topics. The society mainly relies on sources far from honest journalism such as Mirshahin, Haqgin-az, Khazar, APA AzTV, Caliber. Of course, the analyzes and information presented to you by these institutions, which are fully controlled by the state and implement its propaganda policy, are neither objective nor honest. Their job is to manipulate information and keep you as far away from the truth as possible. Without accurate and objective information, people find it difficult to analyze and understand what is happening. People generally cannot understand what is true and what is manipulation, and gradually losing faith in everything, they become indifferent and impudent.
These media organizations and public figures are trying to normalize the “law on foreign agents” introduced by pro-Russian forces in Georgia in our imaginations. For example, they compare that law with the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) in the United States and claim that Georgia’s law is no different from FARA, and therefore it should be normal for a law in the United States to be applied in Georgia or Russia. . But, of course, this is not true. Considering this propaganda carried out by our media, it is useful to note the most important difference between the FARA law of the USA and the “foreign agent law” in Georgia.
The main difference between the two is their definition of “foreign agent”. According to the draft law in Georgia, if any non-profit organization receives more than 20% of its funding from abroad, it is considered a foreign agent and therefore must apply for mandatory state registration. If his application is accepted and he is able to register, foreign agents will be allowed to operate by being included in the state register (At this point, it is appropriate to recall the illegalities in the registration of independent NGOs in our country). Heavy financial sanctions are applied for violation of registration and reporting rules. The most interesting thing is that it does not make any difference whether the funds received from abroad come from a foreign government or from a company, organization, fund or individual. However, according to the relevant law of the United States, only persons (legal or physical) who are under the control of a foreign state or party, act on the instructions of a foreign state and serve the interests of that foreign state are considered foreign agents. There is a difference between the earth and the sky.
In other words, according to the draft law proposed in Georgia, it is not necessary for an institution to be considered a foreign agent if these aspects (acting under the guidance and control of a foreign state, serving the interests of a foreign state) exist. Just getting 1/5 of the funding from abroad will be enough to be considered a foreign agent. It doesn’t matter if you get these funds from a humanitarian organization or from a fund, company or individual. Ujdantutmu all will be considered as foreign agents. According to the FARA law, the conditions for being considered a foreign agent are more severe, and for this, it is important that the person’s activities have all the elements I mentioned above, that is, you must act under the direction and control of a foreign state, and you must serve its interests.
There are many organizations in the US that receive grants from abroad, even media organizations, but the US does not register them as foreign agents. In general, the FARA law does not touch NGOs and media organizations and is not used against them or to oppress them. According to the law in Georgia, all those active in the fields of science, education, culture, sports and other fields that receive money from abroad, and most importantly, non-governmental organizations that control the work of the government, independent media, in short, a large part of civil society are considered foreign agents. will be subject to restrictions and penalties arising from the law. Unlike the United States, the sole purpose of the draft law in Georgia was to suppress the independent media and civil society institutions in the country and destroy them like ours. After destroying them, neither freedom of speech and thought, nor protected human rights, nor the rule of law will remain in the country. Since there is no control over the government, the government will be able to do whatever it wants and will gradually become authoritarian like ours.
By the way, in the case of congressman Henry Cuellar, who was recently accused of committing a crime in the United States (including receiving money from SOCAR), in the Houston federal court, it was this foreigner who was charged against several other people, including our compatriot Irade Akhundova, who lives in the United States. was charged with violating the FARA Act and pleaded guilty. According to the indictment, Akhundova mediated the transfer of money to the congressman’s family on behalf of the state oil company and did it without registering as a foreign agent. His trial will take place in September, and if convicted, he faces up to 5 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $250,000.