A document that says that transparency is bad can’t have legal value for us. Such a statement made the Prime Minister of Georgia, while evaluating the document prepared by OSCE/ODIHR on the Law on Transparency.
“The OSCE/ODIHR document has exactly the same value as the Venice Commission document. This is a recommendatory document and we are bound to share only those comments that are based on legal arguments. In this case, the OSCE/ODIHR document is not based on any legal arguments, practically repeating the report of the Venice Commission, according to which, transparency is bad.
At this point, we all know that transparency is one of the most important European values and transparency cannot be bad. A document that says transparency is bad cannot have legal value for us. Accordingly, we will act according to the principles on which the European Union was founded from the beginning”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.
The legal analysis by the OSCE/ODIHR states that Georgia’s law on transparency of foreign influence does not comply with democratic standards and human rights. The analysis also highlights differences between the law adopted in Georgia and the laws in the US (FARA) and Australia.