Tbilisi: The head of the anti-corruption Bureau of the Republic of Georgia has demanded financial Transparency from the Opposition. These opposition parties which fall under its lens also include IRI and NDI along with other.
Razhden Kuprashvili the Head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau recently presented financial monitoring results of parties at a press conference. This includes the number of political parties that aspire to contest the general election to parliament.
At this press conference he also urged all political parties to submit their financial performance data for this year from January to August 31. The parties will be required to disclose information about the amount of grants. Similarly he asked the “Freedom Square” movement to submit its financial reports as well. The bureau also blamed the main political parties for not disclosing the financial status. Political parties mentioned in this context included:
- Girchi – More Freedom
- Strong Georgia – Lelo, For People, Freedom Square
- United National Movement
- Elene Khoshtaria – Droa
- Ahali – Gvaramia, Melia
- European Georgia – Movement for Freedom
- Yes to Europe – Strategy Aghmashenebeli
Speaking specifically on the occasion Kuprashvili added that “ the biggest threat to the country is political parties getting foreign money to fund their electoral process. Moreover, these political parties and many organizations hold several events in the country.”
They also print their brochures with political messages. However as per Georgian law, there is a total ban on financing political parties from natural persons who do not have legal citizenship of Georgia. They also cannot receive financial aid from a legal entity registered outside the country.
Kuprashvili stated that Freedom Square a new political party founded by Eastern Europeans has been announcing election goals. At the same time some of the organization’s activities have been showing its political activities due to which it needs registration as well.
He also refers to foreign agent law which requires nongovernmental organizations and civil society organizations to register. The law has been introduced to bring transparency in their funding.
