Levan Makhashvili, Chairman of the Parliament’s European Integration Committee, responded to the recent statement from the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), which urged the government to reevaluate the implementation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) and offered assistance in enhancing the legislative framework.

“We have engaged in informal discussions with donors, stakeholders, and their funding states numerous times, yet we have received no response. This lack of engagement is why we have made decisions that we believe are in the best interest of our country,” Makhashvili stated.

In addressing the concerns raised by the ODIHR, Makhashvili critiqued its focus on opposing the law instead of engaging with the real issues it seeks to address.

“They are concerned because they oppose a specific draft law, while we are focused on the pressing problems this legislation aims to rectify. Instead of outright rejection, they should collaborate with us to tackle these issues. For years, we have pointed out problems within non-governmental organizations that operate outside their stated purposes, as well as issues of transparency in the media.

Despite our repeated informal discussions with donors and their funding states, silence remains their response, which is, in many ways, more troubling than the lack of feedback. This inaction is precisely why we made our decision. If they have reservations about certain aspects of the law, they should propose concrete solutions rather than insisting there is no problem.

What exactly do they object to? The U.S. FARA law? Even the administration of Donald Trump recognized that foreign funding can lead to division and unrest. We are making the same case—that certain funds have been used to fuel destructive processes. Are there media outlets in their nations that are directly funded by foreign states? Do they oppose transparency for NGOs? Ultimately, decisions should be made by those who possess direct legitimacy and accountability to the people. While we listen attentively to all opinions, mere concerns and hollow statements do not resolve problems; they exacerbate them. We will not engage in discussions with those whose only aim is to obstruct progress,” Makhashvili concluded.