Czech lawmakers have drafted legislation requiring organizations receiving foreign funding to register with the government, a move critics say mirrors Russia’s “foreign agents” law and could be used to suppress civil society. Prime Minister Andrej Babiš has publicly supported the initiative, which has faced significant public backlash.
Czech “Foreign Ties” Law Raises Concerns
The proposed law would require virtually anyone receiving funding from abroad to register as an “entity with foreign ties.” Those who fail to register could face fines of up to €600,000. The government has cited the US Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) as inspiration, but unlike FARA, the Czech proposal would not exempt international NGOs focused on humanitarian, educational, research, academic, or religious work.
Recent protests in Prague, attended by hundreds of thousands, prompted the government to partially step back from the proposal. However, Babiš stated that a law to monitor foreign funding of NGOs will still be prepared and adopted, and suggested ministries should determine which organizations they “do not need.”
Crackdown on Civil Society
Prime Minister Babiš and Foreign Minister Petr Macinka have consistently advocated for the initiative, claiming it aims to ensure transparency of “political NGOs,” a term the government has not clearly defined. Critics argue the legislation could be used to “starve out” non-governmental organizations.
People in Need, an organization operating in the Czech Republic and dozens of other countries, expressed concern that the law would require them to disclose sensitive information about their staff working in authoritarian countries, putting them at risk. The organization, like Transparency International and Amnesty International, already publishes audited financial reports detailing their donors.
Reinforcing Russian Influence
The rhetoric surrounding the proposed law echoes language used in Russia’s “foreign agents” laws, framing civil society as a potential security risk. This narrative, once associated with governments in Eastern Europe, is now gaining traction in the heart of Europe, threatening democratic resilience.
Russian influence operations have long sought to delegitimize independent actors in democratic societies, portraying NGOs, media, and academic institutions as instruments of foreign influence. The proposed legislation could empower this narrative within the European Union.
Risk to EU’s Resilience
The legislation has the potential to undermine independent organizations that expose disinformation, support vulnerable groups, and hold power accountable. Attempts to introduce similar laws are spreading across the EU, including in Hungary and Slovakia, where governments have been accused of dividing society and fostering an atmosphere of fear and mistrust.
While the Czech government has partially retreated from its initial proposal, it still intends to move forward with measures targeting NGOs and civil society.
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