Ruling party official: if funding transparency law works well in US, it would work in Georgia
The party official said the law was “necessary” to ensure “more transparency” and enable the public to be informed about “where from, and how, this or that organisation is funded”. Photo: Tbilisi City Hall
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Kakha Kaladze, the Mayor of Tbilisi and the Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday commented on the controversy around the proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence by saying a similar law working well in the United States meant the law would also function in Georgia if approved.
Kaladze was commenting on the bill that was proposed by People's Power, a public movement composed of former members of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and involves 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.
Its proposal has been met by a backlash from the domestic opposition, civil sector and diplomatic representations in the country, who have claimed a potential threat to democratic principles from the bill’s possible adoption.
In his response, Kaladze said the draft law was “only about transparency”, and challenged its opponents by raising the question asking “if a similar law works well in America, why would it be bad for us?”.
The party official said the law was “necessary” to ensure “more transparency” and enable the public to be informed about “where from, and how, this or that organisation is funded”.
I will say once again that this bill is only about transparency. We can list a number of countries where a similar law works and no problem has arisen [from it]. I am sure that there will be no problem in Georgia either”, the GD official said.
The official claimed there was an attempt to represent the initiative as a “Russian bill” - in reference to public protests drawing connection with a law in Russia that brands foreign-funded organisations and media as “foreign agents” - but said “no one” making the claim had “gone into the depths” of its content.
If such a law works well in America, why can't it work here? Why would it be bad for us? There are countries that are unfriendly to Georgia and fund various organisations, which could be a problem for us and Europe tomorrow. So why are they worried when we talk about the need for transparency in this direction?”, he noted, adding the bill had “nothing to do” with the Russian law.
The United Nations Office in Georgia on Sunday said adoption of the bill would “risk impeding the work of civil society and media and the essential contributions they make to Georgian democracy”.
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 State Security Service on Monday rejected “fake” reports on its employees being present at the Parliament for ensuring enforcement, amid an ongoing public protest against the proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence.
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.