04/02/2025
10:49
Policy
Mamuka Mdinaradze, Executive Secretary of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday highlighted the "significant pressure and blackmail" from domestic opposition and "external forces" during the introduction of the transparency law on foreign influence. This law, which mandates NGOs and media receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as foreign-influenced entities, sparked protests in Georgia and criticism from Western partners.
Mdinaradze recalled the challenges faced in passing the law, with strong opposition labeling it a “Russian law.” He also pointed to recent comments by U.S. President Donald Trump and other U.S. leaders who criticized USAID and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), acknowledging their funding of activities that Mdinaradze believes undermined Georgia's sovereignty.
He claimed that U.S. funding had facilitated an "externally orchestrated revolution" in Georgia, particularly referencing the protests over the 2024 election results. Mdinaradze argued that the Georgian government’s position on the matter was crucial in preventing a situation similar to Ukraine's war, attributing continued foreign influence in Georgia to a "deep state" that remains active.
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04/02/2025