“Amendments regarding restrictions on political party membership will be implemented in the Organic Law on Political Associations of Citizens,” stated the parliamentary majority leader and chairman of the Georgian Dream faction, Irakli Kobakhidze, at a briefing.

According to him, the draft law establishes grounds for the inadmissibility of political party membership.

“Specifically, a person who is employed under an employment contract in an organisation which receives more than 20% of its annual income from a foreign power will be prohibited from political party membership for eight years. The State Audit Service will monitor the financial activities of political party members. The term ‘with a declared electoral purpose’ will be replaced by ‘with a declared party-political purpose’, providing clearer substance, expanding legal regulation, and enhancing its effectiveness.

The legal restrictions applicable to political parties will also apply to entities with a declared party-political purpose. In the event of foreign funding, criminal liability will be imposed on political party leaders and such entities,” Kirtskhalia noted.

Moreover, as the parliamentary majority leader stated, legislative amendments have also been prepared regarding business entities’ public political activity.

“A new administrative offence is being established in the Code of Administrative Offences for a business entity’s engagement in public political activity that is not related to its core business activity.

In the event of committing this offence, the State Audit Service will fine the business entity 20,000 lari, and 40,000 lari in the event of repeat and each subsequent commission of the act,” Kirtskhalia stated.