As the possibility of a Russian-style foreign agents law hangs ominously over the Czech Republic, AAU students from countries well-versed in similar laws have grown concerned.
In March, it was revealed that several members of Andrej Babiš’s government drafted a foreign agents law targeting a wide variety of non-profit organizations that have any foreign ties, according to documents obtained by Seznam Zprávy.
“This law killed freedom of expression in my country,” first-year Russian student Radislav Sabalovs said.
The foreign agents law originates from Vladimir Putin’s Russia circa 2012, its purpose being to regulate non-commercial organizations who received foreign funding, according to Human Rights Watch. Similar laws have been adopted in Georgia, Hungary, and Kyrgyzstan.
Like Russia, the proposed law would require organizations in the Czech Republic with foreign ties to register in a database, where they would provide information on employees and financial flows. If organizations were to refuse, they could face fines of up to 15 million crowns, or a ban on foreign ties for up to five years, according to Seznam Zprávy.
“These kinds of laws are very convenient for labeling any person or media as an enemy of the nation,” Sabalovs said.
In Russia, the law has caused widespread closure of human rights, anti-corruption, and independent media organizations, according to Human Rights Watch.
Additionally, the European Court of Human Rights confirmed in a 2022 ruling against Russia that the requirements of the foreign agents law caused significant restriction in freedom of expression for those affected.
In 2024, Georgia adopted a similar law on transparency of foreign influence, which required civil society and media organizations that received more than 20% foreign funding to register in a database, sparking mass protests across the country, according to the BBC.
Nutsa Tavartkiladze, a first-year Georgian student, attended some of these protests.
“People were trying to peacefully protest against the law. We could recognize that it would bring us close to Russia and undermine our progress,” Tavartkiladze said. “The government brutally beat the protesters and arrested them. It was the start of a very long battle, which is still ongoing.”
Tavartkiladze said that in Georgia, this law has increased aggression against the media and has limited the necessary resources of many civil society organizations.
Because of the effect it had on her country, Tavartkiladze is concerned about the similar drafted law in the Czech Republic. She warned that Czechs should remain vigilant in the process.
“People should participate in the discussions and confirm to the government their readiness in case of the adoption of the law. They should know exactly what this law serves — why is it needed and what will it protect society from?” Tavartkiladze said.
The wording of the proposed Czech law has been criticized for its vagueness, according to Mapping Media Freedom. If not clarified, the Czech law could target even universities and religious institutions with international connections.
Seznam Zprávy’s report has identified Babiš’s freedom of speech advisor, Natálie Vachatová, as the author of the draft, with edits from other members of parliament from the far-right ANO and SPD parties.
