Anti-Corruption Bureau revokes electoral restrictions on Transparency International Georgia after PM's call

Georgia's Anti-Corruption Bureau on Wednesday rescinded its decision to classify Transparency International Georgia and its Executive Director, Eka Gigauri, as entities with a declared electoral goal following the Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s call the previous day to reconsider the restrictions to “prevent external manipulations” in the October 26 general elections. 

Speaking at a press briefing, Razhden Kuprashvili, the Bureau Head, claimed the decision was taken in the “national interests”. 

No one should be given the opportunity to question the results recorded by the citizens of Georgia in the elections”, the official stressed and claimed his office aimed to “safeguard public trust in the electoral process and, as part of that effort, decided to cancel all previous instructions” targeting Gigauri and her organisation.

In his statement on Tuesday, the PM defended the Bureau’s decision last month which classified TI Georgia, its chair, the Vote for Europe movement, and associated board members as entities with electoral objectives, stripping them of their right to observe the elections and obliged them to submit financial reports. 

However, the official highlighted “to protect the state's interests and avoid external manipulation in the election process, I believe it is expedient to remove the status of TI Georgia as an organisation with a declared electoral goal”, and also called for a similar review of other entities that have been recognised as having electoral goals.

Kobakhidze further argued foreign-funded organisations were “engaging in election propaganda", violating Georgia's Constitution, “undermining state sovereignty” and “conflicted with the principles of democratic elections”. 

However, he claimed their "damaged reputation within the public” meant the alleged violations were “unlikely to have any significant impact” on election results.