Ruling party MP claims “revolutionary revanchism” from domestic opposition amid transparency bill controversy
The MP said the development was taking place through the opposition United National Movement party, its “offshoot parties” and “media related to them”. Photo: Georgian Parliament
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Irakli Chikovani, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday claimed a “destructive revanchist campaign” by a part of the domestic opposition amid controversy around the proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence, alleging the opposition was aiming to cause “dissatisfaction and agitation” among the public using the subject.
The public saw that a destructive revanchist campaign was going on throughout the week in order to brand the bill as a ‘Russian bill’ and not to go into its content, not to explain the real reason and purpose of the law, and on that basis to cause some dissatisfaction and agitation in the public”, Chikovani said.
The MP said the development was taking place through the opposition United National Movement party, its “offshoot parties” and “media related to them”.
We see that this is the result of complete misinformation. I would like to underline that the bill was passed in the first reading, the main purpose of which is to ensure transparency. It is known to the public that before further considering this law, we will wait for the conclusion of the Venice Commission and then proceed with its review”, he noted.
Chikovani acknowledged the “sincere indignation” of “many” Georgian citizens in their reaction to the bill, but said the reaction was based on a “fake campaign”. The comments came following a public protest against the bill in Tbilisi on Tuesday led to clashes with law enforcement, while the Parliament was discussing the proposed legislative piece.
This is the sad reality, and the public has been misled. We also saw that the leaders, or former leaders, of the United National Movement party incited the public to violence. This is once again a clear manifestation of the fact that the United National Movement party has no agenda. Their only and main goal is to cause revolutionary revanchism in the country”, Chikovani concluded.
The Georgian police on Wednesday said it had arrested 66 people for “petty hooliganism”, disobedience to law enforcement and throwing “Molotov cocktails and stones” at officers during the protest.
The proposed bill 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 funding from abroad.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday said the Georgian authorities had showed “utmost respect” to the European institutions by forwarding the proposed domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, which passed the first reading at the country’s Parliament on Tuesday, to the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe for opinion.
Josep Borrell, the European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, on Tuesday said the proposed Georgian bill on the transparency of foreign influence, which passed the first reading at the country’s Parliament on Tuesday, was “incompatible” with European Union values and standards.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Wednesday vowed the Georgian authorities’ support for the country’s European integration by saying the “march forward to Europe” would be facilitated “with Christianity”, “with sovereignty” and “with dignity”.
The Georgian police on Wednesday said it had arrested 66 people for “petty hooliganism”, disobedience to law enforcement and throwing “Molotov cocktails and stones” at officers during a protest outside the Parliament building in Tbilisi after the legislative body gave its initial backing to a proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence in its first reading.
Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday published the letter sent by the official to Bazy Malaurie, the President of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe, for requesting the body’s opinion on the controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence that has met by a backlash in Georgia.
The Georgian police detained ten more people for disobedience to law enforcement during a protest outside the Parliament building in Tbilisi after the legislative body gave its initial backing to a proposed bill on transparency of foreign influence in its first reading, the Interior Ministry said on Wednesday.
The Georgia Rugby Union expressed concern on Friday in its statement over the “systematic and deliberate” attempts of spreading “discrediting lies” about the Union and damaging its reputation.
Irakli Chikovani, an MP for the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday told the Parliament the country was “eager” to be under the collective security umbrella of NATO, but the Government had to implement its policies amid its absence.