The Georgian Dream-led Parliament reviewed amendments to Georgia’s Organic Law “On Political Unions of Citizens” in an expedited manner and approved it in the third reading with 80 votes in favor.
The legislative initiative of Georgian Dream was presented at the session by the First Deputy Chairman of the faction, Irakli Kirtzkhalia. According to the amendment, receiving grants without the government’s consent is prohibited. The Anti-Corruption Bureau will monitor both the issuance and receipt of grants.
“According to the legislative initiative, it will be mandatory to obtain approval from the Government of Georgia or an authorized person/body designated by the government for any grant to be received from a relevant foreign source. Receiving a grant without such approval will entail liability. The Anti-Corruption Bureau will ensure the monitoring of grant reception,” reads the official website of the Parliament of Georgia.
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As stated on the Parliament’s website, under the new changes, a political party or a person with a declared electoral objective will no longer be able to receive a donation in the form of a lecture, seminar, or any other similar public event from a legal entity registered either in Georgia or abroad, or from any other type of association of individuals. The regulations regarding grant reception will also apply to funds provided free of charge in cash or in-kind that are essentially grants by nature.
According to the official document prepared on the amendments to the Law of Georgia “On Grants,” for monitoring purposes, the Anti-Corruption Bureau is authorized to request financial reports from an individual if there is a reasonable suspicion, and also to question a physical person in accordance with the procedures established by this law. The questioned individual is obliged to provide accurate information to the Anti-Corruption Bureau during the questioning.
Receiving a prohibited grant will result in a fine equal to twice the amount of the grant received. Additionally, if an individual provides false information during questioning by the Anti-Corruption Bureau or during testimony before a magistrate judge upon the Bureau’s request, they will be fined 2,000 GEL. In case of repeated offense, the fine will be doubled.
It should be noted that this is yet another controversial step taken in terms of legislative amendments by a Parliament boycotted by the opposition. Previously, public protests followed restrictive changes to laws on assemblies and manifestations, as well as the adoption of the “Foreign Agents Registration Act.”
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