The Committee discussed the justified comments of the President to the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence adopted on May 14 and rejected them. The justified comments provide that the Law shall be valid within 1 day solely upon the effective date.

“The essence and the context of the Law do not comply with the Constitution, the fundamental rights and freedoms guaranteed under the Constitution, the EU integration of the country and the basic norms and values of the EU”, - the Parliamentary Secretary of the President, Giorgi Mskhiladze noted.

The Public Defender, Levan Ioseliani expressed his position about the Law. According to him, the objective of the Law – to establish a higher standard for the transparency of the incomes from abroad – is absolutely legitimate, however, the introduction of the amendments for the achievement of the hereof goal may be ensured.

“In my opinion, the adoption of the Law in this form has inflicted significant prejudice to this process and thus, the Parliament shall refuse to overcome the veto at the plenary session tomorrow, especially, we may refer to the good examples of postponing the overcome of the veto. It will provide time and room for the consideration of the introduction of the changes to other legal acts to ensure the achievement of the set goals”, - he stated.

Per his information, the President should submit the draft justified comments providing the opportunity for the discussion.

As the Chair of the Committee, Anri Okhanashvili noted, regrettably, the representative of the President made the statement about the non-consideration of the contextual part.

“The fact we witnessed today will be depicted as an appalling page in the institution of the President that allegedly, the President shall submit the issue without contextual consideration. Our society has the right to estimate the process. We adhered to maximal correct manner, striving to ensure contextual and productive consideration, and in turn, we hear the words of insult. The representative of the President took his liberty and even lacked the courage to give answers to our society asked by us. Thus, this day is going to get truly infamous for certain officials of the Presidential Administration, not for everyone and the person who so far can be named as the President”, - he stated.

After the Committee rejected the justified comments of the President, the Committee voted and approved the initial version of the Draft. The Draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence regulates the issues as follows: the definition of the concepts of the foreign power, and the organization pursuing the interest of a foreign power; registration of the subjects as the organizations pursuing the interest of a foreign power and due procedures; the mandatory submission of the annual financial declaration by the subjects registered as the organizations pursuing the interest of a foreign power; and the imposition of administrative liability for the failure of the fulfillment of the legal requirements.