imedi /  21 May 2024, 22:25 / Reliable source

Ruling Georgian Dream party criticises Venice Commission's conclusion on transparency law

Salome Kurasbediani

Salome Kurasbediani

The ruling Georgian Dream party on Tuesday responded to the Venice Commission's critical opinion on the domestic law on transparency of foreign Influence, asserting that the conclusion lacks substantiated legal arguments and contains biassed political assessments.

Salome Kurasbediani, a member of the parliamentary majority, addressed the media at the Georgian Dream party press briefing, criticising the Venice Commission's recent conclusion on the law on transparency of foreign influence.

“We would like to respond to the conclusion of the Venice Commission regarding the law of Georgia on transparency of foreign influence, on which the radical opposition and related NGOs have high hopes. The conclusion of the Venice Commission confirmed once again that there are no legal or other arguments against the Georgian law on transparency”, Kurasbediani said.

Kurasbediani argued that the conclusion was filled with unsubstantiated legal arguments, factual inaccuracies, and political bias, thus failing to provide valid reasons against the law.

“In the conclusion of the Venice Commission, we find a lot of unsubstantiated and contradictory legal arguments, as well as a number of gross distortions of facts, which further encourages the radicalisation of specific groups. It is therefore disappointing that the platform of the Venice Commission has been used to make biassed political judgments instead of professional judgement, which again and again damages the reputation of the Venice Commission”, she noted.

Kurasbediani noted that the Commission’s conclusion stated that the final text of the transparency law with the additional changes included in it had not been made public immediately.

“When voicing this information, the Venice Commission relies on one of the Georgian internet articles. In fact, we included the mentioned clarifications in the draft law in its 2nd reading during the discussion at a plenary session of the Parliament, which was announced verbatim at a plenary session and was broadcast live. Accordingly, these clarifications were immediately published on the website of the Parliament of Georgia even before the adoption of the law”, Kurasbediani noted.

“At the same time, the Venice Commission appeals that the [transparency] law seems to have been adopted in a short period of time, and it seems that the stakeholders did not have the opportunity to participate in its discussion. In fact, let us remind you that the discussion of the draft law was carried out in a standard procedure (without any acceleration) for several weeks, during many hours of committee and plenary sessions, where the radical opposition was fully represented. NGOs also actively participated in the discussion”, she continued.

The Venice Commission's portrayal of the protests as entirely peaceful was challenged by Kurasbediani, who pointed to numerous incidents of violence against law enforcement and property damage during the protests.

“The Venice Commission notes that the current legislation of Georgia seems to provide for the obligation to register the finances of NGOs and submit reports. To confirm this, it refers to the Civil Code of Georgia, the Tax Code of Georgia and other separate normative acts. In fact, all the current norms that the Venice Commission appeals to in its conclusion cannot ensure the obligation of the NGO sector to fill in the financial declaration, nor the transparency of their finances. Therefore, the Commission's indication that the financial part of grants received by NGOs is transparent is not true!”, she said.

The Commission's brief comparison of the Georgian law with similar laws in Russia, Hungary, and Kyrgyzstan was labelled manipulative and lacking in legal reasoning by Kurasbediani.

Kurasbediani cited the European Court of Justice's decision, which supports the transparency of NGO finances, contradicting the Venice Commission's stance that NGOs should not be required to be transparent.

The European Commission for Democracy (Venice Commission) on Tuesday issued an urgent opinion urging the repeal of Georgia's Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, citing significant incompatibility with international human rights standards.

All News

Irakli Kobakhidze

07 February 2025, 11:30

Politics

Georgian PM says ball in Brussels' court, bloc needs to be more “flexible” in its approach to new members

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said the ball was in Brussels' court and the bloc needed to be more “flexible” in its approach to new members.

Shalva Papuashvili

06 February 2025, 22:03

Politics

Georgian Parliament Speaker defends media regulation initiative, citing British model

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday addressed a new legislative initiative by the ruling Georgian Dream party, which includes regulations related to the media.

Shalva Papuashvili

06 February 2025, 21:50

Politics

Parliament Speaker highlights legislative initiatives to strengthen democracy, combat disinformation, limit external interference

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said that over the next two months, the legislature would work on various initiatives aimed at strengthening democracy, combating disinformation, and limiting external interference in the activities of state institutions.

Irakli Kirtskhalia

06 February 2025, 21:41

Politics

Ruling party official says primary goal driving Georgian Dream party “has always been and continues to be” strengthening country’s sovereignty

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Thursday said the primary goal driving the Georgian Dream party “has always been and continues to be” the strengthening of the sovereignty of Georgia as an independent nation.

06 February 2025, 21:22

Tourism

Regular flights between Kutaisi and Lyon to start on June 3

United Airports of Georgia on Thursday announced that regular flights between Kutaisi and Lyon would commence starting from June 3.

Maka Botchorishvili Murat Nurtleu

06 February 2025, 20:49

Foreign policy

Georgian, Kazakh FMs discuss bilateral, multilateral cooperation

Bilateral and multilateral cooperation agenda between Georgia and Kazakhstan were discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili and her Kazakh counterpart Murat Nurtleu.

Photo: Government of Georgia

06 February 2025, 17:21

Foreign policy

Georgian PM highlights strengthening partnership with Kazakhstan as foreign policy priority

Political cooperation between Georgia and Kazakhstan is of great importance, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said during his meeting with the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev.

Photo: Government Administration

06 February 2025, 17:01

Politics

Georgian FM says Gov’t respects other countries, expects the same from them

International cooperation and diplomatic relations should be based on mutual respect, stated Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili while discussing interactions with foreign ambassadors.

Photo: Georgian Government

06 February 2025, 16:42

Politics

Georgian PM says new media-related law addresses spread of lies, hatred

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhide on Thursday said media-related legislative changes would focus on combating the spread of lies and hate speech while remaining fully compatible with Georgia’s constitutional and international legal principles.

Photo: Parliament of Georgia

06 February 2025, 16:24

Politics

Georgian Parliament Speaker calls for transparency of European Endowment for Democracy funding in Georgia

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday said that Brussels had to immediately disclose what the European Endowment for Democracy (EED) was funding in the country.

Photo: Government of Georgia

06 February 2025, 15:52

Politics

PM says nowadays no one allowed to interfere in country's internal affairs

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said nowadays no one was allowed to interfere in the country's internal affairs, emphasising that all future decisions would be made independently by the Georgian Government in alignment with the national interests of the country.

Photo: Government Administration

06 February 2025, 14:17

Politics

Georgian PM says no one should have right to seek to change Gov’t “against will of people” through foreign funding of NGOs

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday said no one should have the right to seek to change a Government in the country against the will of the people through foreign funding of NGOs.

Photo: Government of Georgia

06 February 2025, 14:03

Politics

PM claims US Embassy, USAID, NED “were acting in a coordinated manner” against Georgian people, state

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday claimed the United States embassy in Georgia, along with USAID, the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), and other institutions, were acting “in a coordinated manner” against the Georgian people and the Georgian state.

Photo: Government of Georgia

06 February 2025, 13:23

Foreign policy

Kazakh President commends Georgian PM’s leadership, highlights strong bilateral ties with Georgia

Kazakhstan’s President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev on Thursday congratulated the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on his reappointment, emphasising that this well-deserved decision reflected his strong leadership within the country.

Photo: Georgian Government

06 February 2025, 12:59

Foreign policy

Georgian PM, Kazakh President discuss multifaceted partnership

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze, who is on an official visit to Kazakhstan, on Thursday highlighted “fruitful” talks with the Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, discussing Georgia-Kazakhstan multifaceted partnership in areas of mutual concern.

Photo: Ministry of Internal Affairs

06 February 2025, 12:25

Justice

Interior Ministry detains 22 individuals on drug-related charges, including 19 drug dealers

Georgian Ministry of Internal Affairs, in cooperation with the General Prosecutor’s Office, on Thursday detained 22 individuals on drug-related charges following a series operational and investigative measures.

Photo: Imedi TV

06 February 2025, 11:55

Politics

Georgian Parliament official advocates for FARA-style law to ensure transparency

Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, on Thursday voiced strong support for a legislative initiative proposed by the ruling Georgian Dream party, arguing that it was mirroring American law and was serving to uphold democracy by preventing covert and shadowy activities.

Photo: Parliament of Georgia

05 February 2025, 22:21

Politics

Parliament Speaker: those who attempt to blackmail democracy, Georgian people will always receive fair, constitutional, lawful response

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday issued a strong statement following the Parliament's decision to terminate the mandates of 49 opposition MPs upon their request.

Photo: Parliament of Georgia

05 February 2025, 22:05

Politics

Georgian Parliament approves establishment of temporary investigative commission to investigate activities of former UNM regime, its officials between 2003 and 2012

The Georgian Parliament on Wednesday approved the establishment of the temporary investigative commission of the Georgian Parliament to investigate activities of the former United National Movement regime and its officials between 2003 and 2012.

Photo: Government of Georgia

05 February 2025, 21:57

Politics

Georgian PM calls for “Nuremberg-like process” to investigate crimes of UNM Gov’t

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday emphasised the need for a thorough investigation into crimes committed under the former United National Movement Government, comparing the process to the Nuremberg Trials held after World War II.