Ruling party official claims UNM opposition “narrative” behind ODIHR’s conclusions on transparency law

Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Friday claimed conclusions of the Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights of the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe on the domestic controversial law on transparency of foreign influence had been “dictated by the narrative” of the opposition United National Movement party and had “no credibility”.

Ionatamishvili’s comments followed after the Office on Thursday concluded that Georgia’s newly approved law contained “serious deficiencies” that made it “incompatible” with international human rights standards and the country’s commitments as an OSCE state, calling it to be rescinded.

How objective can this report be if one of its authors is [the imprisoned former President] Mikheil Saakashvili's lawyer, who represented him against Georgia in the European Court”, he asked.

“Of course, it has been dictated by the narrative of the National Movement. Such conclusions have no credibility. This conclusion is not objective but tendentious”, Ionatamishvili concluded.

The Georgian Parliament on Tuesday overrode the veto placed by President Salome Zourabichvili on the controversial law with 84 votes against four, on the backdrop of ongoing public protests.