Are we different kinds of people in America and Georgia, or what is happening? It is absolutely absurd to conclude that what is acceptable in America is not acceptable for Georgians. If the Venice Commission looks at us in such a segregative way, that is another matter, – this is how the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia, Shalva Papuashvili, assessed the opinion that the Venice Commission published on the laws “On Registration of Foreign Agents” and “On Grants”.
According to Papuashvili, in recent years the Venice Commission has been publishing not legal, but political conclusions. The Chairman of the Parliament believes that the Venice Commission did not have the courage to say about the American FARA that it contradicts the rule of law.
“We have been saying for a long time that, unfortunately, the Venice Commission has completely changed its practice for several years now. Before that, the Venice Commission had clearly legal conclusions, and we have been seeing for several years now that these are political conclusions and a political report. This conclusion and this report are the best example that the Venice Commission has become a compiler of political conclusions, not a compiler of legal conclusions. For example, when they talk about FARA, which is in effect in America, they don’t even dare to say that it contradicts the rule of law. They should at least have the audacity to say that what is in effect in America contradicts the rule of law. It is clear to any lawyer that this is a political conclusion and has nothing to do with the fundamental task that the Venice Commission had regarding legal conclusions. As for stigmatization – what is stigmatization? If it is not stigmatized in America, how can it be stigmatized in Georgia? Are we different kinds of people in America and Georgia, or what is happening? The conclusion that what is acceptable in America is not acceptable for Georgians is absolutely absurd. If the Venice Commission looks at us in such a segregative way, that is another issue,” Papuashvili said.
Shalva Papuashvili – Are we different kinds of people in America and Georgia, or what is happening? It is absolutely absurd to conclude that what is acceptable in America is not acceptable for Georgians – if the Venice Commission has to look at us in such a segregative way, that is a another issue
