Georgian Prime Minister Accuses EU Officials of Avoiding Debate Over Transparency Law

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused European officials of avoiding substantive discussions over Georgia’s controversial transparency legislation, drawing parallels with the country’s domestic opposition and claiming that critics are unwilling to engage because they lack convincing arguments.

Speaking to Georgian journalists in Brussels, Kobakhidze said he remained optimistic that the European Union’s approach towards Georgia could change as political circumstances continue to evolve.

“Political developments are unfolding dynamically, and under these circumstances, we can remain optimistic that the European bureaucracy’s attitude towards the Georgian people and our country will change,” he said.

The Prime Minister defended Georgia’s transparency legislation, which has been a major source of disagreement between Tbilisi and its Western partners, arguing that its provisions were consistent with established legal standards.

“Take, for example, the transparency law, which was disgracefully labelled a ‘Russian law’. This legislation required only one thing: non-governmental organisations had to submit their financial reports to the Ministry of Justice once a year. There can be nothing in such a requirement, even theoretically, that contradicts legal standards,” Kobakhidze said.

He accused former US and EU ambassadors to Georgia, along with European officials, of deliberately misrepresenting the legislation and conducting what he described as a politically motivated campaign against it.

“The then US ambassador, the then EU ambassador and representatives of the European bureaucracy were shamefully misleading the public when they called this valuable and important legislation a Russian law,” he said.

Kobakhidze maintained that the law had strengthened Georgia’s ability to protect its sovereignty and national interests, rejecting accusations that it was modelled on restrictive Russian legislation.

He argued that critics had failed to present substantive legal objections and were instead avoiding direct discussions with the Georgian government.

“We are waiting for them to present their arguments. Because they have no arguments, they avoid dialogue about this law, other legislation and other issues,” the Prime Minister said.

Drawing a comparison with Georgia’s political opposition, Kobakhidze accused European officials of demonstrating a similar unwillingness to participate in public debates.

“Just as the opposition and its activists in Georgia repeatedly avoid debates, unfortunately, the European bureaucracy also avoids such discussions because the truth is on our side,” he said.