Ruling party official rejects UN Office criticism over bill on transparency of foreign influence

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party in the Parliament, on Tuesday said the Office of the United Nations in Georgia had “not presented an argument proving” that the domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, reintroduced by the party, would jeopardise civil society.

Mdinaradze’s comments followed the Office’s comment on Tuesday, where it said adoption of the controversial bill, which calls for registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad, would ​​endanger activities of domestic civil society and media.

The lawmaker said there was “no official body or person in the world - including in countries friendly to us - whose positions we would accept without arguments [backing them up]”.

They did not present an argument why civil society in Georgia would be endangered by something that does not pose a threat to civil society in Europe”, Mdinaradze said in reference to similar pieces of legislation abroad.

“If someone tells us why something that is not harmful in Europe, United States, Israel, etc. is disturbing and damaging, including for the civil sector and democracy, then we will think it over", he continued.

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Monday said there was “no alternative to transparency in a democratic society”, in comments on the ruling party’s resubmission of the bill.

The original version of the draft law was retracted last year after public protests and criticism by the non-governmental sector and diplomatic offices in the country.