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

Shalva Papuashvili

Shalva Papuashvili

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.

In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that these challenges were not unique to Georgia but were global in nature.

“The scandalous revelations that we have recently heard from the new United States administration regarding the misuse of US foreign aid are certainly a signal to us that it is important to look at our legislation and be prepared to ensure that democracy will be able to protect itself from external interference”, the Speaker said.

“We have seen revelations that have confirmed what we have been saying that the United States foreign aid has been used by some organisations to exert their influence in other countries. [...]. Therefore, these scandalous revelations prompted us to think more about this. Therefore, we will work on these ideas over the next two months, initiate draft laws in the near future and have a public discussion of this”, he continued.

Over the next two months, the Georgian Parliament is set to introduce multiple legislative proposals aimed at countering foreign-funded destabilisation attempts.

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