Georgian PM: NGOs engaging in politics must rely on Georgian society, not foreign funding

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday emphasised that NGOs wishing to participate in political activity in Georgia must rely on domestic support rather than foreign funding.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze noted that his Government was not restricting political activity itself, but insisted that such activity be financed domestically.

“The only restriction is that political activities cannot be conducted in our country using foreign funding. Is political activity the only field for employment of NGOs? If they want to engage in political activity, they should kindly do so with the support of Georgian society, not foreign forces”, he said.

The Prime Minister added that, because NGOs lack the support of the Georgian people, they seek funding from abroad.

"Because they do not have the support of the Georgian people, they go and receive money from abroad. We are not restricting anyone. Foreign funding simply means that anyone who wants to engage in political activity should kindly seek resources within the country, as is done in all healthy states. We want to be a healthy state, and the laws being adopted serve this purpose”, he concluded.