“The amount sent by our diaspora is very large and very important — every family is grateful and rightly appreciates this significant contribution, but we must also realize that this money is not deposited into the state budget,” stated Georgian Dream MP Davit Matikashvili. He made this comment in response to criticism of the part of the draft Electoral Code which provides that parliamentary elections will only take place in Georgia, with no polling stations abroad.

Matikashvili noted that in 2024, $3.3 billion was transferred from the Georgian diaspora.

“This is a very large and very important sum. It is natural that every family is grateful and sees this important contribution as benefiting their country and their own households. But we must also realize that this money does not enter the state budget. These funds were sent directly to specific individuals — those whose family members live abroad. We fully understand how much work and effort it takes for these people to send such a significant portion of their earnings to their home country, but we must be precise and not mislead the public — we are not talking about $11 billion, but $3.3 billion,” Matikashvili said.

The Parliament will review the new draft Electoral Code and related bills in the first reading.