This law has been in effect in European countries and America for a long time, but it seems it is not possible for Georgia. It is not possible because those who finance coups in the country do not want this type of law to be adopted, – Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said in connection with the opinion published by the Venice Commission, where the Commission discusses the law “On Registration of Foreign Agents”, amendments to the law “On Grants” and the repeal of other laws “On Foreign Influence”.
According to him, there are no arguments on these issues as to why these laws are bad, why they contradict the European future and the European integration process.
“We should not be surprised by statements of this type, because with these laws, we and the society will be able to exercise control over where and from whom the funds that are spent on politics come to Georgia, the funds that are spent on attempts to divide society, deepen polarization, finance extremist organizations, and incite violent individuals, which is very serious. Accordingly, the society should have information about all of this. That is precisely why they are so aggressive about these laws. In European countries and America, this law has been in effect for a long time, moreover, they talk about the need to further tighten it, the financial situation of NGOs should become even more transparent, but this is not possible for Georgia. It is not possible because those who finance coups in the country, and there have been several attempts to do so, even now, remember, on October 4, they stormed the presidential palace, of course, they do not want these types of laws to be adopted in Georgia, because everything will be clear. The society already knows everything about who is who. Who is a lover of this country and who is an enemy. Our position is simple, we have repeatedly stated that we are ready to sit down, talk, hear arguments as to why the aforementioned laws are bad, why they contradict the European future, the European integration process. Believe me, there are no arguments and we have not heard any to this day. One year has passed and we are saying that if you have any arguments, present them so that we can sit down and discuss them. Maybe something is wrong with us, maybe we have failed to something. We brought an analogue of the American FARA law, exactly the same, but it turns out that this is not possible. It is easy to draw a conclusion here. They do not want to adopt the aforementioned laws in Georgia because the society will have direct information about who is financing the attempted coups in the country, the overthrow of the government, who is fighting against faith, the church, our identity, everyone will have information about this,” said Kakha Kaladze.
Kakha Kaladze on Venice Commission opinion: One year has passed and we say that if you have any arguments, present them, let’s discuss them – we introduced the analogue of the American FARA, exactly the same, it turns out that this is not possible here
