In the interest of the state and to prevent external manipulation during the electoral process, it is advisable to revoke the status of Transparency International - Georgia as an organization with declared electoral objectives, reads the statement, issued by the Prime Minister of Georgia.

“As known to the public, the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgia has made a decision regarding the designation of the status of an organization with declared electoral goals to several organizations, including Transparency International - Georgia.

The fact that Transparency International - Georgia has declared electoral objectives and engages in open electoral campaigning propaganda against the ruling party, utilizing corresponding financial and other material resources, is evident to any objective observer. Therefore, the decision rendered by the Anti-Corruption Bureau is substantiated with the highest standards of veracity from a legal perspective and fully complies with the requirements set forth in the Organic Law of Georgia on Political Associations of Citizens. Consequently, it is not surprising that the validity of the Anti-Corruption Bureau"s decision has also been affirmed by the court of first instance.

However, in the interest of the state and, first and foremost, to prevent external manipulation during the electoral process-of which the initial signs have already emerged-it is advisable to revoke the status of Transparency International - Georgia as an organization with declared electoral objectives. Furthermore, it is desirable for the same approach to be extended to other entities recognized as organizations with declared electoral objectives, even though only Transparency International - Georgia has expressed non-compliance with the decision of the Anti-Corruption Bureau.

The declared electoral objectives of Transparency International - Georgia and its long-standing radical and polarizing political agenda have long been known to the Georgian public. Therefore, it is unnecessary to confer any legal status upon this organization for the public to draw appropriate conclusions.

Transparency International - Georgia directly participated in the dissemination of false results during the parallel vote tally in 2020. It also signed off a fraudulent conclusion regarding alleged discrepancies of 8% in the electoral protocols and the supposed delay in the announcement of election results by the Central Election Commission (CEC). Consequently, Transparency International - Georgia, in collaboration with other organizations, deliberately created an artificial pretext for the radical opposition to refuse recognition of the democratic election results and to demand the appointment of extraordinary parliamentary elections. These actions should unequivocally be regarded as an attempt to change the government against the will of the people, in which Transparency International - Georgia played a key role. Furthermore, Transparency International - Georgia actively participated in the second attempt of a revolution in 2022, when it, along with other organizations, took to the political stage in front of the Parliament building of Georgia, demanding the resignation of the government and the establishment of a so-called technical government with the involvement of non-governmental organizations.

Today, Transparency International - Georgia operates with a declared electoral purpose, is openly engaged in electoral agitation and propaganda, and aggressively attempts to restore to power the political forces that have left their mark on our country through state capture and the establishment of authoritarianism, total falsification of elections, killings and torture of individuals, racketeering of businesses, seizure of television stations, war and the loss of 20% of Georgia’s territories.

In light of all the above, I reiterate that the Georgian public does not require the assignment of any legal status to Transparency International - Georgia in order to draw appropriate conclusions and exhibit caution.

It should also be noted here that, alongside Transparency International - Georgia, other organizations associated with it are operating with declared electoral goals, which are also registered as local monitoring organizations with the Central Election Commission (CEC). From a purely legal standpoint, assigning the status of an organization with declared electoral goals by the Anti-Corruption Bureau could be applicable to almost any financially capable organization registered as a local monitoring organization with the CEC; which could further facilitate external manipulation.

In light of the above, I call upon the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgia to exercise its legal discretion and reconsider its decision regarding the assignment of the status of an organization with declared electoral goals to Transparency International - Georgia and other relevant entities. Furthermore, based on similar considerations, I urge the Anti-Corruption Bureau to exercise its legal discretion and refrain from granting the status of an organization with declared electoral goals to other relevant entities prior to the parliamentary elections.

Indeed, the engagement of organizations operating with foreign funding in electoral agitation and propaganda grossly contradicts the provisions of the Constitution of Georgia, the principle of state sovereignty and the principles of democratic elections. However, considering the tarnished reputation of Transparency International - Georgia and other relevant organizations within society, this violation will, in practical terms, have no impact on the results of the parliamentary elections scheduled for October 26”, - says Irakli Kobakhizde.