US says NDI, IRI help strengthen Georgian democracy
Bidzina Ivanishvili said that NDI and IRI in Georgia are facing devaluation and he does not trust studies ordered by them. Photo: Embassy of Georgia to US.
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US says National Democratic Institute (NDI), the International Republican Institute (IRI), other non-partisan organisations help strengthen Georgian democracy.
“Our partners do important work. NDI, IRI and other independent, non-partisan organisations help strengthen Georgia’s democracy, writes USAID on its official Twitter page.
Our partners do important work. @NDI @IRIglobal and other independent, non-partisan organizations help strengthen Georgia's #democracy. @usingeo @USAIDDRG @USAIDEurope https://t.co/CSVWWruYEC
— USAID Georgia (@USAIDGeorgia) December 5, 2019
The statement was further shared by the US Embassy in Georgia, adding, that Embassy is proud of the important work of its partners.
Proud of the important work our partners @NDI, @IRIglobal, and other independent, non-partisan organizations do to help #Georgia strengthen its democracy! https://t.co/bhgbzngTVR
— U.S. Embassy Tbilisi (@usingeo) December 5, 2019
A few days ago, Georgian Dream leader Bidzina Ivanishvili said in an interview that US-based institutions, NDI and IRI in Georgia are facing devaluation and he does not trust studies ordered by them.
Later other NGOs also responded to Ivanishvili’s statement, including Open Society Georgia.
Keti Khutsishvili, Executive Director of the Open Society Georgia said that the government starts harassing NGOs when starts to move towards autocracy.
The need for democratic institutions was also discussed by the US Ambassador to Georgia, Elizabeth Rood, who mentioned that Georgia is democratic country and the US has invested a lot in the development of its democracy.
Rood added, that any political change should be in agreement with Parliament and democratic institutions.