This Overview highlights the legislative opportunities and constraints affecting the financial sustainability of civil society organizations. It also offers a comparative approach, allowing readers to use examples from several countries and apply them to their practice. Moreover, the Overview provides information that can be used to improve civil society-related legislation across the region and is meant to be particularly useful for specialists, civil society representatives, government agencies, and parliamentarians. Find the full analysis here (in Russian)  or in English here.

Настоящий Обзор ознакомит читателя с возможностями и ограничениями в законодательстве, которые влияют на финансовую устойчивость НКО. Представленный в Обзоре сравнительный анализ позволит читателю познакомиться с опытом других стран и использовать этот опыт в своей практике. Обзор также поможет читателям в дальнейшем совершенствовании правовой среды, которая бы способствовала финансовой устойчивости НКО, и будет полезен специалистам, представителям НКО и государственных органов, парламентариям, которые стремятся совершенствовать законодательство для НКО в своих странах.

On July 18, 2023, the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan posted for public discussion the Draft Resolution on Measures for Further Support of Social Partnership and International Cooperation in the Implementation of Socially Beneficial Programs and Projects by Nongovernmental Noncommercial Organizations (Draft Resolution). The Draft Resolution establishes a new procedure for the approval of funds and property acquired from foreign sources by Uzbekistani CSOs. Although the Draft Resolution eliminates contradictions and simplifies the procedure for approval of funds received by CSOs, the overall process for CSOs’ receipt of foreign funds remains complicated and it fails to ensure the implementation of standards under Financial Action Task Force (FATF) Recommendation 8. At the request of local CSOs, ICNL prepared recommendations for further improvement of the Draft Resolution. Find the full analysis here.

In March 2023, a group of Georgian parliamentarians introduced a draft Law of Georgia “On Registration of Foreign Agents. The drafters claim that they copied the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act, but many of the provisions of the Draft Law are either used out of context or completely different from the U.S. law. This ICNL and ECNL briefer provides an overview of the Draft Law and points out its potential impact on the people and businesses of Georgia, its enforcement, as well as how it may significantly undermine the Georgian economy, deterring foreign investment. Find the full analysis here.

The recently introduced Draft Law of Georgia on Transparency of Foreign Influence has drawn profound concern from international and Georgian organizations. If passed, it would substantially weaken civil society and independent media, which are crucial to preserving democracy in Georgia. At the request of local partners, ICNL and ECNL prepared an analysis of the draft law’s compliance with international law and European standards. Our analysis shows that many of the draft law provisions do not comply with Georgia’s obligations under international law or EU standards. Find the full analysis here or a summary of our findings here.