Georgian PM highlights transparency in foreign funding as crucial for national security

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Tuesday highlighted the transparency in foreign funding as essential for national security, stating that recent revelations about foreign-funded initiatives in the country were indicating hostile intentions.

“Every cent that comes into our country should be transparent to the public, so that our security is protected. The facts shared by the Americans about the funding of specific initiatives in Georgia show that there were specific, hostile intentions”, Kobakhidze said.

“Everything became clear after we heard the messages of the new [US] administration. It turns out that it was possible for a specific administration from the West to have hostile intentions towards our country. That is why we say that the main thing is sovereignty, the independence of the country. The main thing is transparency”, he continued.

He further elaborated on the journey of the domestic transparency law, noting that attempts to derail it coincided with attempts at revolution.

The PM added that despite significant pressure, including demands from the previous US administration to withdraw the law, the Government pushed forward with the initiative.

“You remember that we initiated the transparency law twice. The first time, it was withdrawn; the second time, it was adopted. However, in both cases, the introduction of the transparency law was followed by attempts at revolution. You also remember the messages at that time, questioning why we were adopting this law despite the fact that, for example, the previous United States administration demanded its withdrawal. Some individuals claimed that by passing this bill, we were declaring the United States an enemy. In the end, everything became clear after we heard the messages from the new administration. It turns out that a specific administration from the West could also have hostile intentions toward our country”, the PM claimed.

Kobakhidze reaffirmed that transparency and sovereignty were non-negotiable for Georgia’s future, warning against external pressures that could compromise the country’s stability.