NGOs Protested In Front of Chamber of Control

Interpresnews

Part of Georgian NGOs protested in front of the Chamber of Control on February 8. They protested the decision of the Monitoring Department at the Chamber of Control, according to which the non-governmental organization New Generation New Initiative was ordered to submit information about financial expenditures.

Eka Gigauri, head of the Transparency International – Georgia, told the Interpresnews there is no information about direct or indirect cooperation of the New Generation – New Initiative with any political parties.

“We were afraid that the government could use the new law against NGOs too and our fear turned up real. The Chamber of Control must clarify to us why the law was used against NGOs,” said Eka Gigauri.

Head of International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy Nino Lomjaria believes the law can be used against any organization due to its obscure provisions. She said the argument of the Chamber of Control with regard to the New Generation – New Initiative is unacceptable for them.
“It is obscure clarification of the law and similar decision is a very negative precedent against any NGO. We not only protest this decision, we also demand them to annul their decision,” Nino Lomjaria said.

Several NGOs participated in the assembly – Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, Transparency International – Georgia and Coalition for Fair Elections.

The Chamber of Control of Georgia requested non-profit legal entity Republic Institute and organization New Generation- New Initiative information about financial plural accounts. The head of Department for Financial Monitoring of Political Parties Natia Mogeladze said at the press-conference on February 8 that they have already sent corresponding letters to the organizations. The new regulation of the law became ground to examine the organizations; namely, in accordance to the requirements of Article 261 and Article 32 Part IV of the Organic Law of Georgia about Political Unions of Citizens, a political party shall provide the corresponding institution with its financial plural accounts.

“Department for Financial Monitoring of Political Parties within the Georgian Chamber of Control requested non-profit legal entity Republic Institute to provide us with financial accounts. The same request was sent to the New Generation New Initiative whose associated members still carry out political activities. Both entities have three days to submit requested information,” Natia Mogeladze said.

In addition, reportedly the members of Georgian Republic Party founded the Republic Institute.

The annual declarations of political parties were published on the official website of the Chamber of Control of Georgia.