Georgian Parliament Speaker, EU Ambassador, bloc member state ambassadors discuss transparency bill
The Parliament Speaker emphasised the draft law would be sent to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and expressed hope that, in the meantime, the civil society would “actively” work with the legislative body to “ensure transparency”, instead of “stigmatising and tabooing” the discussion on the initiative. Photo via Parliament press office
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Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday discussed the bill on transparency of foreign influence with Paweł Herczyński, the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia and ambassadors of the EU member states, the Parliament press office said.
In his comments to the media, Papuashvili said the ambassadors “expressed concerns” over the bill proposed by People's Power, a public movement composed of former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and involving registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad.
In the light of the “stigmatisation” of the discussion over the bill, such concerns are understandable, Papuashvili noted, highlighting the importance of transparency, as well as mutual understanding of all actors involved in the political decision-making process, which has been “required” by Georgian citizens.
The Parliament Speaker emphasised the draft law would be sent to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, and expressed hope that, in the meantime, the civil society would “actively” work with the legislative body to “ensure transparency”, instead of “stigmatising and tabooing” the discussion on the initiative.
In his turn, after the meeting, the EU Ambassador criticised the bill on transparency of foreign influence as an initiative that “does not correspond to the norms and values of the EU”, and stressed the initiative contradicted “at least” two points out of the 12-point conditions outlined by the European Council for granting Georgia the membership candidate status.
Herczyński also said he and the ambassadors had a “very frank” and open exchange of views with Papuashvili and Nikoloz Samkharadze, the Georgian Parliament's Foreign Affairs Committee Chair, and as he noted the EU would “closely” observe the development of the initiative and expressed hope it “would not become a law”.
Anri Okhanashvili, the Chair of the Parliament's Legal Affairs Committee, on Wednesday said the topic of the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence should be open for discussion.
Sozar Subari, a member of People's Power - a public movement composed of former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party - on Wednesday said it was “impossible that what is good for American democracy turns out bad for Georgia”, in comments on the proposed controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence.
Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili on Tuesday pledged to veto the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, proposed by the People’s Power movement, if the draft law is approved by the country’s legislative body.
Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday said there “could be no arguments from anyone” against the domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, which has been proposed by People's Power, a public movement established by former MPs of the party, and caused public controversy over the recent days.
The bill on transparency of foreign influence, proposed by People's Power, a public movement composed of former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, was supported at the first hearing by the Foreign Relations and Defence Committees later on Thursday amid confrontation at the joint session.
Russia is an occupier and it is impossible for Georgia to act like that country in any way, Gia Volski, the Vice Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, told journalists on Saturday, noting Georgia could not “give up” on the Euro-Atlantic integration process, as it has been the choice of Georgian people.
The Georgian Parliament on Tuesday continued discussions of the proposed bill that involves registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad, local media said.
A public protest was launched on Monday outside the Parliament of Georgia in capital Tbilisi in a demonstration against the proposed bill on registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad.
The Georgian Parliament on Tuesday approved the transparency bill at the first hearing that involves registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “agents of foreign influence” if they derive more than 20 percent of their income from abroad, local media said.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday said he had “clearly confirmed” to country’s European and American “friends” that the ruling Georgian Dream party would not revert to the domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, which it retracted from the Parliament voting following domestic and international backlash in March.