Opponents didn't desire healthy, open discussion over Transparency Law, Kobakhidze

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated on Wednesday, “Our opponents didn’t desire a healthy and open discussion regarding the draft law [on transparency of foreign influence]”, 1tv.ge reports. 

 

In an interview with Georgian Public Broadcaster’s ‘Gadatskvetileba’ [Decision] programme, the Prime Minister stated, “When the opposition does this, it is understandable, but when foreign politicians and diplomats do the same, it is absolutely incomprehensible.”

 

According to Kobakhidze, “the processes relating to the transparency bill were carried out in such a way that there was no room for discussion at all.”

 

“We have continually requested a debate on the bill. There were several offerings, including live talks.

 

I offered to the ambassadors that they sit down together and discuss the bill’s content in front of the public. There were several additional offers.

 

A last-minute offer was made to the youth. There was significant so-called bullying of young people, and no one risked appearing on live television under those conditions.

 

You may recall how this process proceeded in parliament. They left no room for a genuine healthy debate,” the PM noted.

 

In Kobakhidze’s words, “From the start, there was an irrational campaign surrounding the bill with no in-depth discussion.”