Parliament official claims some NGOs engaged in political campaigning together with opposition parties, failing to maintain neutrality

Givi Mikanadze, the Chair of the Parliament’s Committee on Education, Science and Youth Affairs, on Thursday said it was no longer “surprising” but rather a “reality” that some domestic non-governmental organisations were talking about holding elections in a “free, equal and competitive” environment while actively interfering in political activities.

In his remarks over the matter, Mikanadze pointed out that some NGOs, together with representatives of opposition political parties, had publicly engaged in political campaigning against the Government and had failed to maintain neutrality, calling the development a “manifestation of double standards”.

“They seek to create a false impression in a part of the public about the influence of the Government on the election results. It seems that the use of double standards by NGOs has become systematic”, Mikanadze said.

He noted a meeting on July 21, when the Transparency International Georgia NGO organised meetings with local citizens in the city of Batumi.

“Despite Transparency International Georgia's declared neutrality in electoral processes, there was open anti-Georgian Dream agitation”, Mikanadze continued.

Mikanadze denounced the ongoing campaigns by NGOs aimed at discrediting the ruling party, citing the Civil Society Foundation as an example for posting anti-Government video clips on social media.

“This is another proof of how NGOs use foreign funding against the ruling party. In addition, this is the organisation that funds local election monitoring organisations. These facts once again reveal the harmonious compatibility of opposition political parties and a number of non-governmental organisations”, the Parliament official said.

Mikanadze also added that the reports prepared by the Young Lawyers Association, Fair Elections, and local NGOs during the pre-election period had not mentioned these issues, reinforcing the perception of their subjective and anti-Government bias.