Opposition slams ruling party’s plans to hold rally in support of controversial foreign transparency bill

Georgian opposition members have criticized the ruling party’s planned rally in Tbilisi on April 29 in support of the foreign transparency bill, accusing them of mobilizing administrative resources to bolster their event. Zurab Japaridze, the leader of the Girchi- More Freedom party, expressed his disapproval on Tuesday, stating, “what they are doing is mobilizing administrative resources. This cannot be compared to the genuine grievances expressed by protesters on Rustaveli for over a week.”

Opposition MP Khatia Dekanoidze condemned the ruling party’s tactics, describing them as an attempt to sow division within society. 

 

“This action reflects the Georgian Dream’s reliance on administrative resources and its disconnect from the concerns of ordinary citizens,” Dekanoidze remarked. She highlighted instances where individuals were allegedly coerced to vacate their homes for the sake of the rally, characterizing it as evidence of the ruling party’s self-serving agenda.

Dekanoidze concluded by asserting that such actions further exacerbated societal divisions, echoing sentiments that the ruling party “under Bidzina Ivanishvili” prioritized its interests over the welfare of the Georgian people.

The bill successfully passed its first reading on April 17 with the support of 83 MPs, including 73 from Georgian Dream, nine from People’s Power, and one from European Socialists. 

The bill calls for the registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “aligned with interests of a foreign power” if they obtain more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad. Previously the bill branded the organizations as “foreign agents”.