Speaker says US Ambassador’s remarks contribute to opposition’s disinformation narrative

“The remark of the US Ambassador to Georgia on the alleged withdrawal of the Ukrainian bill on de-oligarchization from the Venice Commission and saying that no opinion would follow contributed to the disinformation narrative of the radical opposition,” said Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili.

According to Papuashvili, Ambassador Kelly Degnan played a negative role in ongoing processes and deepened polarization.

The Speaker clarified that the ruling team was waiting for the opinion of the Venice Commission on the Ukrainian bill since the Georgian draft was its copy.

“Unfortunately, US Ambassador said that Ukrainian law was withdrawn from the Venice Commission and no opinion would follow. Yesterday, it turned out that this information was incorrect.

The Ambassador’s statement contributed to the radical opposition’s disinformation narrative to a certain extent then, and this statement played a negative role and harmed the political processes, deepened polarization and tarnished the country’s image as if Georgia had a stubborn government not wanting to submit the draft-bill to the Venice Commission. Yesterday confirmed what we said; we were waiting for the opinion on the Ukrainian bill,” he said.

On November 22, 2022, US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan said that to her information, Ukraine withdrew its bill on de-oligarchization from the Venice Commission.

The Venice Commission, an Advisory Board of the Council of Europe, on June 12 published its final opinion on the Law on the prevention of threats to national security associated with the excessive influence of persons having significant economic or political weight in public life (oligarchs) adopted at its 135th Plenary Session held on 9-10 June.