Government benefits from comparable foreign aid as civil sector – NGO head

Nino Dolidze, the head of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, has spoken out against the reintroduction of the foreign transparency bill by the ruling Georgian Dream party. Dolidze highlighted that the Georgian government benefits from comparable foreign aid to that received by civil society organizations.

Expressing dissatisfaction with the government’s stance, Dolidze emphasized the “crucial role” of civil society in nurturing democracy in Georgia throughout the years. 

“Civil society has been instrumental in advocating for Georgia’s democratic values, working towards a brighter future, and promoting our national interests,” stated Dolidze. “Portraying it as a tool for foreign interests is not just problematic but entirely unacceptable, particularly when the government itself benefits from similar assistance provided by our international partners.”

The bill proposes to classify non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “aligned with the interests of a foreign power” if they receive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.