Parliament official highlights importance of legislative framework for transparency

David Matikashvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party and Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Committee on Procedural Issues and Rules, on Wednesday responded to the recently published document under the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which disclosed that Nika Gilauri, one of the funders of the Georgian opposition and the PM under the former UNM Government, had hired a lobbying firm in the United States, paying $600,000 for its services.

In his remarks, Matikashvili noted that the information revealed under FARA underscored the critical importance of transparency in governance and legislative oversight.

“The information that is known to the public within the context of FARA is important. Once again, this confirms how crucial and necessary it is to have a legislative framework for transparency in the country. Something similar to what exists in the United States”, the Parliament official said.

Matikashvili raised concerns about the purpose of the lobbying efforts, suggesting that they might be aimed at deceiving the international community about the United National Movement party and its members.