“The most crucial aspect for us is that funding should be transparent. It will help reduce the amount of disinformation in the country. If there is ambiguity in the financing, organizations will spread such disinformation more freely in the future,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze emphasized.

Kobakhidze made these remarks in response to inquiries about information circulated by several organizations regarding the property of Bidzina Ivanishvili (honourary chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party).

“This is not the first instance of false information being disseminated by these organizations. What is particularly concerning is the motives behind this misinformation and the sources of their funding. Such disinformation serves political purposes, which is why the public needs to have clear information about funding sources.

In fact, these organizations are among the primary sources of disinformation and polarization in our country. It is troubling that they receive funding, including from Western sources,” Kobakhidze continued.

He reiterated that transparency in funding is vital, asserting that if funding is clear, the volume of disinformation will decrease.

“Conversely, if financial sources remain ambiguous, such organizations will continue to spread disinformation more freely”, said Irakli Kobakhidze.

The press office of the Georgian Dream party also released a statement regarding the allegations against Bidzina Ivanishvili, related to the information shared by the Organized Crime and Corruption Investigation Project (OCCRP).