UK Ambassador on transparency bill: hindrances to civil society’s functioning “concerning”
Clayton noted since the UK was no longer a member of the EU he could not speak on behalf of the bloc, but added his Government was a “strong supporter” of democracy and human rights around the world. Photo: UK Government
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Mark Clayton, the Ambassador of the United Kingdom to Georgia, on Thursday told local media civil society was a “crucial component of democracy” and anything that hindered its ability to function was “concerning”, in comments on the controversial Georgian bill on transparency of foreign influence that sparked public protests this week.
Clayton was asked whether the bill hindered Georgia's democracy and European integration, and said European Union officials, the bloc’s Ambassador Paweł Herczyński and Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, had “clearly stated” their positions on the legislative piece in the context of the country’s European perspective.
Herczyński on Wednesday said Georgia was a “free and democratic country” and it was up to its citizens to decide the laws that would be adopted, adding the EU would respect “any decision” made in the country.
Michel on Tuesday commented on the bill by saying the draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence “is not consistent with” Georgia’s European Union aspiration and its accession trajectory.
Clayton noted since the UK was no longer a member of the EU he could not speak on behalf of the bloc, but added his Government was a “strong supporter” of democracy and human rights around the world.
The newly reintroduced Georgian bill calls for registration of non-commercial legal entities and media outlets in the country as “pursuing the interests of a foreign power” if they derive more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad.
It has been brought back by the ruling party after its original version was retracted last year following public protests, and has been met by criticism from the domestic opposition, non-governmental sector and some of Georgia’s foreign partner governments and diplomatic representations in the country.
Strategic partnership between Georgia and the United Kingdom was discussed on Thursday in a meeting between Irakli Garibashvili, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party, and Mark Clayton, the British Ambassador to the country.
Mark Clayton, the British Ambassador to Georgia, on Tuesday said the United Kingdom was a “firm friend” of Georgia and affirmed its support to the country’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations.
Charles Michel, the President of the European Council, on Tuesday said the draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence “is not consistent with” Georgia’s European Union aspiration and its accession trajectory.
Paweł Herczyński, the European Union Ambassador to Georgia, on Wednesday said public protests in Georgia against the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence were not on the agenda of topics of today’s session of the European Council.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee of the Georgian Parliament, on Tuesday said access to information was a “legitimate right of citizens”, in response to criticism from some member states of the European Union and domestic opposition over the ruling Georgian Dream party’s reintroduction of a controversial bill on transparency of foreign influence.
Domestic opposition parties, non-governmental organisations, media outlets and citizens on Wednesday gathered outside the Parliament building in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi to protest the controversial domestic bill on transparency of foreign influence, with the legislative body approving the first reading of the draft law earlier today.