Georgia ruling party official on NGO funding scheme: Anti-Corruption Bureau will investigate organisation’s activities

Irakli Kirtskhalia, the Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Tuesday commented on a new NGO funding scheme that bypasses the Georgian “FARA” law, expressing confidence that the Anti-Corruption Bureau will look into the activities of a certain organisation and every transaction it has carried out.

In his remarks, Kirtskhalia noted that this scheme did not require complex analysis, “it is a route that comes from Brussels”.

“This scheme, which has been uncovered, does not require complex analysis - it is unfortunately a route that comes from Brussels. This is precisely the kind of misdirected spending we have been exposing for a long time. We heard live the statement of one of the so-called NGO founders stating that they would find ways to bypass the existing legislative framework in the country”, he said.

The Chair added that when the scenario arrived, the executor needed funding, and they did everything to ensure these destructive forces were not left without ‘fuel’.

“I am confident that the Anti-Corruption Bureau will examine the organisation’s activities and every transaction that has been carried out”, Kirtskhalia concluded.

The organisation GISART received nearly GEL 3 million from the European Commission. According to the grant’s purpose, the funds were intended to assist victims. Due to a legal exception, the organisation was not required to register in the official registry.

The funds were distributed among 11 organisations that actively participate in financing protest actions and paying fines.

Specific human rights defenders also received portions of the funding.