Opposition MP Dekanoidze: transparency of foreign influence bill threatens Georgia’s EU efforts

Khatia Dekanoidze, an opposition MP, on Monday condemned the reintroduction of the foreign transparency bill by the ruling Georgian Dream party, claiming by the move the ruling power aimed to “sow division among Georgian citizens and obstruct the nation’s path towards European integration”.

Dekanoidze accused the government and the ruling party founder Bidzina Ivanishvili, of “orchestrating a deliberate campaign to maintain power and impede Georgia’s progress within the EU”. 

The lawmaker claimed the bill, which aims to brand all domestic entities obtaining more than 20 percent of their incomes from abroad as organizations aligning the interests of a foreign power, “not only exceeds European recommendations but also directly undermines Georgia’s European integration efforts”. 

She contended such actions were designed to fragment Georgian society, particularly following mass protests last year, which forced the ruling power to reject the bill. 

Furthermore, Dekanoidze suggested that the bill aimed to “discredit both observation missions and civil society organizations involved in them”. She characterized these efforts as a “targeted campaign by Ivanishvili to bolster his authority and stifle Georgia’s advancement towards the EU”.