For Georgia opposition re-urges inquiry into fraudulent call centers

For Georgia opposition party on Tuesday reiterated its call for the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry into the operations of fraudulent call centers, following allegations made by the US Helsinki Commission on Monday towards the Georgian Government.

The Helsinki Commission accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of financing its activities through dark money obtained from a network of fraudulent call centers.

The For Georgia highlighted it was the second time they had demanded such an inquiry, the first being on April 24, 2023.

“Yesterday, for the second time, we demanded the creation of a parliamentary commission of inquiry on call centers,” Natia Mezvrishvili from the party said. “We called on the rest of the opposition to join us.”

The party further accused the GD of refusing to establish the investigative commission. “The GD refusal confirms that it has not only benefited from the dark money received from the call centers but also used the infrastructure of the call centers to intimidate citizens during the protests against the [controversial Foreign Influence Transparency Law] Russian law,” she added.

The GD officials have condemned the Helsinki Commission claims as “absurd” and “cynical”, asserting the allegations were reportedly linked to the “wish” to replace the current Georgian authorities.