Georgia’s ruling party Sec Gen highlights transparency as US steps up FARA enforcement

Kakha Kaladze, Mayor of Tbilisi and Secretary General of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday said the United States' decision to tighten enforcement of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) was understandable given the challenges facing countries around the world.

Kaladze's comments came after the US Department of Justice stepped up enforcement of FARA, reminding individuals and organisations acting on behalf of foreign governments or foreign principals of their potential registration obligations under the law.

Speaking to reporters, Kaladze said every country was concerned with protecting its state and citizens.

“You remember that years ago, when we made a specific decision regarding transparency, there was a great deal of pressure and many attacks. By the way, this continues today - we still deliberately hear incorrect statements filled with lies and falsehoods, telling us that these laws should be abolished. Of course, we will not take any step that would be harmful to the country and society”, he said.

Kaladze emphasised that transparency was one of the fundamental pillars of democracy.

“Accordingly, when we say that society needs to know who and which organisations are receiving funding, where it comes from, and what specific projects those funds are being used for, making this information public is important”, he noted.

“The fact that in the United States, where this law was adopted and whose model we used as the basis for our legislation, they are now tightening enforcement even further is entirely understandable. Given the challenges facing the world today, every country is naturally concerned with protecting itself and its people”, Kaladze concluded.