Georgian PM cites “state expediency” behind call to remove electoral status from Transparency International Georgia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday cited “state expediency” behind his call to the country’s Anti-Corruption Bureau to review its September decision and revoke the status of an “entity with electoral objective” from Transparency International Georgia and its Chair, Eka Gigauri.

The comments came after the Bureau on Wednesday accepted the Government head’s appeal and removed the status it had applied to the organisation.

In his press briefing, the PM acknowledged the Bureau's “purely legal standpoint” in its approach to classify the organisation, its Chair, the Vote for Europe movement, and its leadership with the status and impose related restrictions last month, which included the obligation to present financial reports and limiting their role as observer organisations in the upcoming October 26 general elections.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau logically classified the organisations as entities with a stated electoral objective. This classification reflects a purely legal perspective rather than considerations of state expediency”, the official said. 

He claimed while evidence showed the organisations were “engaged in open electoral campaigning” against the ruling Georgian Dream party, imposing restrictions on them in the lead-up to the vote “could have given some forces grounds for speculation”.

It is evident that specific organisations, including Transparency International Georgia, have political and electoral objectives. They openly promote their electoral agenda and are actively involved in election campaigning, which is well-documented. They do not conceal this fact. Hence, the Anti-Corruption Bureau's decision to classify these organisations as having a stated electoral goal was entirely logical, reflecting legal criteria rather than political considerations, as it is not a political agency”, Kobakhidze highlighted. 

Extending gratitude to the Bureau for considering his position by revoking restrictions on TI Georgia and its Chair, the PM claimed the organisation “will likely not offer any surprises with its election observation. It failed to do so in 2020 and is even less likely to in 2024 due to its tarnished reputation. Therefore, it is prudent to avoid giving anyone a basis for speculation [by imposing restrictions]”. 

The official also accused Khatuna Lagazidze, a founder of the Vote for Europe movement, of “political bias”, claiming she was “engaged in electoral campaigning” in support of the United National Movement opposition and affiliated groups.

However, the PM reaffirmed his appeal to the Bureau to remove restrictions from the movement, adding its actions were “unlikely to have any impact on the election results due to their poor reputation”.