As is known to the public, on August 30, 2024, the Public Defender of Georgia addressed the Minister of Justice with a general proposal to make changes to the relevant order so that the personal data of individuals (name, surname, personal number, bank account number, etc.) are not publicly published in the declarations to be submitted by the entities obliged to register as organizations pursuing the interests of a foreign power.

On September 20, 2024, the Minister of Justice partially approved the general proposal of the Public Defender and made changes to the relevant order, as a result of which, organizations with the obligation to register as organizations pursuing the interests of a foreign power are no longer required to reflect the personal numbers, bank account numbers and financial institutions of its employees, persons in other contractual relationships with them, beneficiaries and other persons in declarations to be annually submitted and publicly published.

The Public Defender positively evaluates the mentioned changes, which will significantly reduce the negative impact of the regulations on individuals, although it cannot fully reflect and achieve the goal of the proposal issued by the Public Defender, since the names and surnames of individuals are still indicated in the declaration forms submitted by the organizations with the obligation to register. Therefore, in order to prevent the encroachment of personal data of individuals, it is important that the general proposal of the Public Defender be fully implemented.

In order to fully implement the general proposal, the Public Defender expresses his readiness for further cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.