Shalva Papuashvili writes about Foreign Influence Transparency Legislation

Georgia: Shalva Papuashvili, a member of the Georgian parliament, wrote about the Foreign Influence Transparency Legislation on his official Facebook page. He highlighted the concerning trend of foreign politicians participating in anti-government protests, citing specific instances.

This is not just an unfriendly gesture towards Georgian people; it is also a symptom that the Russian government has given some of its philosophy to its most ardent opponents, especially in the Baltic countries.

Addressing a group of distressed young people ruled by radical opposition parties against the government and calling them “an entire nation” is something you would expect more from Soviet or Russian propagandists than from a member EU foreign minister, wrote Minister Papuashvili.

Also, aiding an attempt to overthrow a democratically elected government because you don’t like the legislation it passes is like a copy of the Soviet manual.

According to the minister Shalva Papuashvili, some of the governments of their Baltic partners have been taken too far by their rhetoric. Their presentation of the world in black and white has led them to a state where anyone who disagrees with their rhetoric is automatically an enemy; everyone must correct the enemy by any means necessary, and therefore, diplomacy must be replaced with propaganda. Everyone familiar with the modern history of Soviet and Russia suddenly recognizes this style.

This doesn’t seem right. The Georgian government, with its long-standing loyalty to European and Euro-Atlantic values and politics, has proven its commitment. However, nowadays, due to the narrow perspective of NATO membership, Georgia, for the most part, is left to deal alone with challenges coming from abroad. One such challenge is the non-transparent foreign money, which flows freely into the political system of Georgia, including radical groups.

Foreign Influence Transparency Legislation is an answer to a challenge that has precedent in the West and within democratic governance. Calling this law “Russian” does not make it undemocratic. Moreover, it does not justify attacking the Georgian government.

Some who are affected by the law are protesting it. These protests, often radical and violent, are led by groups and individuals who stand to lose from the increased transparency. Foreign officials’ participation in this protest, ignoring Georgia’s sovereignty and diplomatic practices and in the name of ‘democracy and human rights,’ is hypocrisy at best and, at worst, an attempt to subvert the country.

Georgia needs friends and support, not hypocrisy and digging up the ground. From the north, we’ve experienced both enough. It’s crucial for us all to be aware of the potential negative impact of foreign influence on Georgian politics and to stand together in addressing this issue.