"We call on the leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream to publicly explain to the Georgian people whether they have been instructed to act in favor of a foreign state's interests, and if so, to name specific cases." The addressees of this appeal are the leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream party, who have worked in organizations funded by the USA and the European Union for years.
News
Trending stories
- 1 Protests Erupt in Abkhazia Over Russia-Favored Law, Opposition Members Arrested
- 2 Edison: 13% Discrepancy Between Exit Polls and CEC Results Suggests Manipulation
- 3 Kobakhidze: German Chancellor Should Be More Concerned About His Own Problems
- 4 US-Sanctioned Russian Propagandist Present in Georgia During Elections
- 5 President’s Lawsuit on Elections Registered by Constitutional Court
- 6 Judge of Tetritskaro Annuls Results of 30 Precincts Over Vote Secrecy Violations
In particular: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze worked for 9 years in US and UN organizations. Speaker of the Parliament Shalva Papuashvili worked for 17 years in the German Foundation (GIZ, German Society for International Cooperation). Givi Mikanadze, Chairman of the Education, Science, and Youth Affairs Committee of the Parliament, received funding from the Council of Europe, the OSCE, the United Nations, and the European Union for 10 years. Chairman of the Human Rights Protection and Civil Integration Committee of the Parliament, Rati Ionatamishvili, received funding from the European Union, USAID, and other international funds for 9 years. Nikoloz Samkharadze, Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Parliament, worked for 11 years in the programs of the European Union and the United Nations. Vice Speaker of the Parliament Archil Talakvadze worked for US organizations and the "Soros Foundation" for three years. Maia Bitadze, Chairman of the Environment Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament, worked for 15 years in the UN, OSCE, and World Bank organizations.
“Some of them, as representatives of donor organizations, worked with Georgian non-governmental organizations on justice, equality, self-government, and other issues. Today, they declare that those organizations, which they have represented for years, act in the interests of foreign states and are a threat to Georgia. Accordingly, we call on them to publicly explain to the Georgian people whether they have been instructed to act in favor of the interests of a foreign state, and if so, to name specific cases.
Georgian non-governmental organizations have acted, are acting, and will act to achieve the goals stipulated by their statutes, to protect the interests of Georgian citizens, and to strengthen democratic public institutions in Georgia," the joint statement of non-governmental organizations states.
The statement is signed by: Transparency Intenational Georgia; Human Rights Center; Institute for Development of Freedom of Information; Governance Monitoring Center, Centre for Multiparty Democracy; Green Alternative; The SovLab Soviet Past Research Laboratory; Salam Platform; International Society for Fair Elections And Democracy; Civil Society Foundation; Sapari; Young Lawyers Association of Georgia; Georgian Democracy Initiative; Georgia's European Orbit; Georgia's Reforms Associates; Georgian Court Watch; Institute of Social Research and Analysis; Social Justice Center; Women's Initiative Supporting Group; The Georgian Centre For Psychosocial And Medical Rehabilitation Of Torture Victims and Tbilisi Pride.
Georgian Dream intends to have the parliament adopt the Russian law on so-called foreign agents in all three hearings by the end of the current session, which it refused in March 2023 due to protests and international pressure. The text of the draft law will be the same; only "agent of foreign influence" will be replaced by the term "organization carrying the interests of a foreign power." Georgian Dream executive secretary, Mamuka Mdinaradze, noted that even in the event of a bigger protest than last year, the bill will not be called back. The USA, NATO, and the European Union claim that the adoption of the law on the so-called agents will damage the European integration process of Georgia.
