The United National Movement is creating a Register of Agents of Russian Influence in Georgia, the Chairman of the Political Council of National Movement, Levan Bezhashvili, said at the briefing.
According to him, all those political leaders who are financed by Russia and the goal of which is to increase Russian influence in Georgia will be included in the register.
In addition, Bezhashvili calls on international partners to sanction the persons included in said register.
“The draft law ‘On transparency of foreign influence’ grossly violates the freedom of association and expression, the right to protection of personal data, the right to participate in public activities and the right to non-discrimination,” Bezhashvili says. “The law aims to strengthen government control over civil society and organizations, to destroy free media and critical opinion, which is the basis for the establishment of an authoritarian regime.
“Taking into account the rights guaranteed by Chapter 2 of the Constitution of Georgia, the spirit of Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia and the obligations assumed by the Association Agreement, the United National Movement is creating the Register of Agents of Russian Influence in Georgia. All those political leaders who are financed by Russia and whose political activities aim to increase Russian influence in Georgia will be included in the register,” he notes.
“We appeal to international structures to suspend the parliamentary delegation membership of all MPs who are part of the permanent parliamentary delegation created for regular relations with international inter-parliamentary organizations and who will support the mentioned law, including: Euronest Parliamentary Assembly, Organization for Democracy and Economic Development – GUAM Parliamentary Assembly, NATO Parliamentary Assembly, the OSCE Parliamentary Assembly and the Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly.
“We appeal to the political groups (parties) of the European Parliament to terminate the group membership of the deputies of the Parliament of Georgia who support the mentioned law.
“We call on the embassies of the United States of America and the European Union countries in Georgia to impose visa restrictions on Members of Parliament who support the mentioned law, and their family members, and to prohibit them from travelling to the United States of America and the member states of the European Union.
“We appeal to the international financial institutions, the relevant structures of the European Union member states and the United States of America, to restrict the right of above-mentioned persons to use their bank accounts in European countries and the United States of America, including by canceling the existing accounts and prohibiting the opening of new bank accounts,” Bezhashvili concluded.
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