Georgian PM says “transparency not a criterion” for “distinguishing between enemies, friends”

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday said transparency “was not a criterion for distinguishing between enemies and friends”, in his remarks over the controversial bill on the transparency of foreign influence that has sparked public protests and criticism from some of the country’s partners.

Kobakhidze said transparency was a “responsibility of friends before the Georgian public”.

“Georgia's sovereignty faces challenges in many directions as well, and I will deliberately refrain from specifying what I mean by that. The law on transparency will seriously help us to ensure the protection of the state sovereignty from various sides”, he claimed.

As for the West, the opposition talked about this as if we consider the West as an enemy. I will repeat once again that transparency is not a criterion for distinguishing between enemies and friends. First of all, of course, a friend should be transparent, this is the friends’ responsibility before the Georgian public”, he continued.

The PM claimed domestic pro-Russian forces had “practically disappeared from the political space”.

“The only organisation that has been active recently is Alt-Info [media outlet and affiliated political organisation]. It has existential problems today”, he said.

“Therefore, we can all see that over the past 12 years we have done everything to reduce the risks for the state sovereignty in this specific direction to a minimum, and we have actually achieved this result, although this law on transparency of foreign influence will naturally provide us with additional help in this direction as well”, the Government head added.

Kobakhidze stressed transparency “cannot be directed against anyone” and cited the Government’s own “full transparency” to the public as an example against the position that “we see ourselves as an enemy to anyone”.