MEP accuses lobbyists of using EP to change government in Georgia, bring country into political conflict with Russia

Clare Daly, a Member of the European Parliament, on Thursday accused lobbyists in the EP of using the body to change the government in Georgia and bring the country into political conflict with Russia, “as they did in Ukraine”.

In her comments to the Imedi TV channel, the Irish MEP noted some members of the EP were “constantly” using the tribune to interfere in the democratic processes of Georgia, as well as “protect” imprisoned former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili.  She alleged these MEPs “have had deep relations” with Saakashvili and the former leaders of the United National Movement government.

Daly stressed it was unacceptable that external forces meddled in domestic affairs - “it is up to you [Georgians] to decide who will be in power”.

Addressing the European Parliament’s resolution against the bill on transparency of foreign influence, which calls for the 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, Daly emphasised there was “nothing undemocratic” about implementing such legislation.

In the United States and European states, it is recognised that their citizens have the right to know who funds non-governmental organisations, she said.

The MEP also called the notion that Georgia must relinquish its sovereignty to gain entry into the European Union “disgraceful”, adding true progress and improvement should be facilitated by Georgian citizens and not from external dictates.

Daly urged Georgian people “not to worry about” the European Parliament’s resolution, stressing the upcoming elections in the EU structure would bring positive changes.

The European Parliament earlier today passed the resolution with 425 votes in favour and 30 against, which “strongly condemns” the reintroduction of the controversial draft law on transparency of foreign influence and stresses that EU accession negotiations should not be opened “as long as this law is part of Georgia’s legal order”.