Day: February 2, 2026
Amendments to Georgia’s Law on Grants
Michael O’Flaherty, the Council of Europe’s human rights commissioner, said that amendments to seven different laws initiated by the Georgian parliament pose a serious threat to civil society and risk pushing the country into breaching its international obligations.
He added that the proposed amendments would impose serious restrictions on the work of non-governmental organisations, increase state control over civic activity, and undermine public participation in democratic processes.
The commissioner directly urged the Georgian parliament not to adopt the amendments and reminded the government of its obligation to protect the right to freedom of association.
Georgian Dream is continuing to tighten laws on what it calls “foreign funding”. Under the proposed changes, any cooperation with foreign foundations or legal entities without government approval would become a criminal offence. The move is seen as an attempt to block all channels of foreign funding in Georgia, including alternative mechanisms that civil society organisations developed after earlier legislative changes. In response, 23 member states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe triggered the so-called Moscow Mechanism — a tool used when there are concerns about a serious deterioration of the human rights situation in a participating state.
“These amendments run counter to Georgia’s obligations under international law. I urge parliament to reject them, and the government to reaffirm its commitment to protecting civic space and fundamental freedoms,” O’Flaherty said in a statement.
According to Michael O’Flaherty, the amendments announced on 28 January 2026 primarily concern the Grants Law and significantly broaden the legal definition of a grant. Under the new wording, a grant could be considered any financial or other assistance transferred from one person to another and used to influence the activities of the government, public institutions or any part of society.
The commissioner warned that such a broad definition creates a real risk of the state exercising excessive control over the lawful activities of civil society.
“This threatens normal and legitimate civic activity, weakens public support and undermines citizens’ participation in democratic life,” he said.
Michael O’Flaherty noted that the proposed amendments are part of a series of repressive laws adopted since 2024, which have already caused significant damage to the country’s civil society sector.
He said that existing and planned regulations raise serious concerns about their compliance with the principles of legality, legitimacy, necessity and proportionality, as well as with the non-discrimination standards set out in the European Convention on Human Rights.
“An active civil society is a cornerstone of any democratic country. The Georgian authorities must ensure freedom of association and put an end to all forms of harassment and intimidation of human rights defenders and civil society representatives,” the statement said.
Amendments to Georgia’s Law on Grants
The Central Bank of the Republic of Azerbaijan (CBAR) is set to announce its first monetary policy decision of 2026 on February 4, in line with its official schedule for the public disclosure of interest rate decisions.
The announcement will concern the parameters of the interest rate corridor, which remains a key instrument of the Central Bank’s monetary policy framework. The upcoming decision is expected to provide important signals to financial markets, businesses, and households regarding the future direction of monetary conditions in the country.
The most recent adjustment to the interest rate corridor was made by the Board of the Central Bank on December 10, 2025. Under that decision, all parameters of the corridor were reduced by 0.25 percentage points. As a result, the benchmark interest rate was lowered to 6.75 per cent, while the lower bound of the interest rate corridor was set at 5.75 per cent and the upper bound at 7.75 per cent. The decision entered into force on December 11, 2025.
The announcement will concern the parameters of the interest rate corridor, which remains a key instrument of the Central Bank’s monetary policy framework. The upcoming decision is expected to provide important signals to financial markets, businesses, and households regarding the future direction of monetary conditions in the country.
The most recent adjustment to the interest rate corridor was made by the Board of the Central Bank on December 10, 2025. Under that decision, all parameters of the corridor were reduced by 0.25 percentage points. As a result, the benchmark interest rate was lowered to 6.75 per cent, while the lower bound of the interest rate corridor was set at 5.75 per cent and the upper bound at 7.75 per cent. The decision entered into force on December 11, 2025.
Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and some of his cabinet members are visiting the United Arab Emirates from February 2 to 5.
It is Kobakhidze’s second official foreign trip this year and, again, to the UAE, after he visited Abu Dhabi in mid-January to attend Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week.
Kobakhidze arrived in Dubai on February 2. The Georgian Dream delegation, led by him, also includes Defense Minister Irakli Chikovani, Foreign Affairs Minister Maka Botchorishvili, Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili, Justice Minister Paata Salia, Education Minister Givi Mikanadze, and Head of Government Administration Levan Zhorzholiani.
According to a government press release, Kobakhidze will participate in the World Governments Summit (WGS), held in Dubai from February 3 to 5. He will deliver a speech at the summit and take part in a roundtable discussion on the “future of investments,” the government administration said. Bilateral meetings are also scheduled as part of the visit.
Georgian Dream government officials were, for the second consecutive year, not invited to attend the World Economic Forum in Davos, amid deteriorating relations with the country’s traditional Western partners.
More to follow…
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