MPs echo initiative to probe into NGO funding regulations

The new initiative by Davit Chikhelidze, the founder of the Regional Development and Promotion Center, which calls on the audit service to probe into the NGO funding regulations affiliated with specific political parties, met varied stances among politicians.

Chikhelidze said some political parties were ‘illicitly’ receiving donations through NGOs – a scheme that allows them to bypass legal requirements and finance political activities domestically and internationally.

Chikhelidze named several parties that allegedly use this tactic, including the United National Movement, Girchi – More Freedom, European Georgia, Droa, Citizens, For the People, Republican Party, and Strategy Agmashenebei based on documents obtained by his organization.

Below are the politicians’ reactions in quotes:

Irakli Kadagishvili, parliamentary majority: “A non-governmental organisation is fundamentally different in its sense, implying by its name that it should have less interaction with politics. As a result, uniting a political party with a non-governmental organisation in the same setting and activity is illegal. If such occurrences occur, they should be studied.”

Irakli Zarkua, parliamentary majority: “It is a very good initiative. If there is a similar breach someplace, it should be stopped because we must all respect the Georgian Constitution, international organisations, embassies, and everyone. We have been told several times that there are parties that construct absurd non-governmental organisations that are associated with these party structures and then obtain financing from foreign organisations. Our constitution and laws forbid this.”

Guram Macharashvili, People’s Power: “The heads of Droa and Girchi – More Freedom parties admitted that most political parties have established so-called NGOs in order to receive foreign funding. Because the Constitution prohibits funding political parties directly or indirectly, it would be quite beneficial if the competent body looked into this.”

Khatia Dekanoidze, opposition MP: “This can be interpreted as opposition repression, which, I believe, will be followed by fresh initiatives in the parliament in September. They are aware that 2024 will be a tough year for them in terms of ceding power, and Georgian Dream will attempt to suppress the opposition. I had no idea who this person was or what they were talking about, so I couldn’t grasp their point of view. I believe this individual will eventually be linked to the Georgian Dream.”