“Follow the money”: ruling party official cites US Senator on transparency

Mamuka Mdinaradze, the Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Thursday highlighted recent comments made by US Senator Jim Risch regarding financial transparency, pointing out the apparent contradiction in criticism leveled against Georgia's transparency law, given Senator Risch's own emphasis on the importance of “following the money”.

Mdinaradze’s remarks follow Senator Risch's emphasis on the necessity of transparency in foreign funding of US universities, where he has long advocated for universities to disclose which foreign countries fund their research and programs.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Mdinaradze stressed that the Senator’s remarks align with what the Georgian Government has long been advocating.

“Senator Jim Risch, whom we all know very well, made a universal statement. Do you remember his criticism, including of American legislation and the transparency bill? Today, this same person says: We need to follow the money! If there is nothing to hide, then why the opposition? That’s exactly what we’ve been saying - there aren’t two versions of the truth. We’re simply stating a basic truth”, the ruling party official said.

He further stressed that it was insulting for any Georgian to be told that what was essential for another country was unacceptable for Georgia.

“If transparency is the relevant issue that needs to be followed, and financial transparency is a priority, it is necessary for the country, and this is state thinking in the US, how can it be the opposite in Georgia?!” he continued.

He further argued that the lack of substantial arguments against transparency in Georgia was evident in the labeling of such initiatives as “Russian”.