In a letter to Dunja Mijatović, Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili pledged to hold inclusive discussions over the People’s Power-tabled Transparency of Foreign Influence bill to “finalize the best version considering freedom and transparency of the active civic society.”

Below is the letter in full:

“Dear Commissioner,

I would like to thank you for your letter regarding the draft law on “transparency of foreign influence” proposed by the People’s Power group in Parliament.

Georgia has achieved progress in democratic transformation with great assistance and cooperation with the Council of Europe, the oldest value-based European organisation. Our aspirations on the EU membership path have been demonstrated by our firm commitment to the fundamental principles of the Convention and democratic values that, among others, created a solid foundation for a diverse and vibrant civil society in Georgia.

We indeed share a common understanding that any regulation that could affect civil society organisations shall be based strictly on the principles of democracy and the rule of law.

Currently, there are two draft bills proposed in the Parliament – one is an exact copy of the U.S. Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), and the other is a non-restrictive, liberal version of the FARA. Let me assure you that parliamentary discussions on the proposed initiatives will be inclusive to find the best possible modality respecting the balance between the freedom of Georgia’s dynamic civil society and the legitimate causes of transparency, accountability, and security.

Dear Commissioner,

Citizens comprise the core of civil society and they have a right to be informed on actors that have an impact on their lives. The privilege of influencing policy formulation and decision-making comes with responsibility.

Indeed, state institutions and political parties have the strictest constitutional regulations on openness, transparency and accountability recognized by numerous international organisations and rankings. However, in a sharp comparison, despite the ever-increasing engagement and impact of non-commercial organisations (NPOs) on decision-making, there are no workable regulations for NPOs that can provide at least minimum transparency and accountability, including when it Comes to foreign funding.

The more Georgia progresses on the EU membership path, the more important it becomes to realise and respect this shared responsibility in a good spirit,” the Speaker said.

Georgian Parliament Speaker responded to the letter of the Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights, Dunja Mijatović. The Commissioner expressed concern about the bill, saying “such a legislative initiative presents a number of human rights issues in the light of the Council of Europe standards in the field of freedom of association and expression.”