Georgian PM: US Foreign Agent Registration rules underscore importance of transparency

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Thursday commented on US legislation requiring individuals to register as foreign agents, saying that transparency is a fundamental principle of democracy and should be strengthened in all democratic countries.

In his remarks, the Prime Minister noted that it is very good that the US is addressing the transparency of foreign influence.

“Transparency is one of the fundamental principles of democracy. It is very good that the US is addressing the transparency of foreign influence. What we had been arguing over the past years, and what our political opponents and foreign agents called a Russian law, turned out to be a foundation of democracy. Of course, transparency is a fundamental principle of democracy, and transparency should be strengthened in all democratic countries”, he said.

“We have worked seriously on this issue in Georgia, which has produced results. One of our main priorities is to ensure that any foreign political influence is exercised transparently”, Kobakhidze concluded.