Brussels has become a symbol of hypocrisy today, blaming others for what it itself does - our legislation provides for transparency in lobbying, and now Brussels should obey Georgian legislation and stop hidden funding, - the Speaker of the Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, said in response to the new transparency rules adopted by the European Parliament relating to lobbying by third countries.

“At one time, there was talk of adopting these regulations, but they postponed it ten because they had to settle things with us first. They postponed it so that what they were reproaching Georgia for, that we did not have the right to demand transparency from external influences, would not be too obvious.

Time has passed, and now they are trying to present it in a different way, as if there is something different from Georgian approach. This, of course, is hypocrisy. Brussels has become a symbol of hypocrisy today, accusing others of what it itself is doing, and this is good evidence of hypocrisy.

They want to pretend that this does not apply to civil society, NGOs. It applies to everyone who is considered to be engaged in lobbying.

Isn’t “Transparency International” engaged in lobbying in Georgia? They are giving testimonies against Georgia in Congress and in the parliaments of other countries and are trying with foreign funding to impose various regulations on Georgia. Who was lobbying for the vetting system in Georgia and with what funding? NGOs, with funding from Brussels. They have practically burned down the parliament building with “Molotov cocktails” and now they are quietly demanding transparency in lobbying to pursue their own interests.

Exactly, our legislation provides for transparency in lobbying and now Brussels should obey Georgian legislation and stop hidden funding,” said Shalva Papuashvili.