Illegal money in politics “serious issue”, says Georgian Parliament official

Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Committee on European Integration of the Georgian Parliament, on Monday said the illegal circulation of money in politics was a serious issue, and the sooner the European Union and its member states acknowledged this problem, the better it would be for the EU as a whole.

In his remarks, Makhashvili stressed that ignoring the problem was not a solution.

“This is a clear manifestation of the problem. Everyone must confront it and take serious actions. This issue is widespread globally, and the sooner countries begin to address it, the more responsible and accountable they will be to their voters”, the official said.

He further added that Georgia had also faced several pressing challenges in this area but had addressed them through newly adopted legislation.

“If other countries are interested in learning from our experience, we are happy to share it. What matters most is that this issue [illegal flow of money] is recognised as a priority”, he noted.