Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić today made the following statement: "I am deeply concerned by the developments unfolding in Georgia and regret Parliament's adoption in second reading of the draft law 'on transparency of foreign influence', despite calls by Georgia's international partners to withdraw it. Given the major concerns about its compatibility with European democratic and human rights standards, I call on Georgian lawmakers to wait for the forthcoming opinion of the Venice Commission and to consider its recommendations before making any final decisions.
"An enabling environment for civil society and the media is essential for a vibrant and fully functioning democracy. Transparency should not be used as an instrument to stigmatise civil society organisations and limit their capacity to operate freely.
"I also condemn the violence witnessed on the streets of Tbilisi over recent days. Disproportionate use of force against demonstrators is incompatible with human rights standards. Georgians, who have demonstrated their profound attachment to democracy on many occasions, should be able to exercise their freedoms of assembly and expression in a peaceful manner.
"I hope that Georgia and the Council of Europe continue the constructive dialogue that has characterised our productive cooperation over recent years. We remain ready to assist Georgia in ensuring compliance with international standards on its paths towards EU integration."
