The Tbilisi City Court has given permission for the Anti-Corruption Bureau to access the personal data, including bank account information, of the founders of the newly launched “Vote for Europe” movement and the organization itself. According to the movement’s lawyer, Kakha Kozhoridze, this decision is unlawful and will be appealed in the Tbilisi Court of Appeals.
The movement, which was inaugurated by President Salome Zurabishvili on July 11, aims to protect Georgia’s European future, independence, and freedom by mobilizing pro-Western voters through their “100 Days to Victory” campaign. However, Kozhoridze argues that the Bureau can only access personal information if the person being investigated has a stated electoral purpose. He points out that the movement and its founders do not participate in elections or seek power, therefore they cannot be considered to have a stated electoral purpose.
Kozhoridze also criticizes recent changes to the law on Political Associations of Citizens, which he believes gives the government too much power and moves the country towards dictatorship. Khatuna Lagazidze, one of the founders of the movement, also expresses concern about these changes and believes it is their duty to fight for the protection of citizens.
In response to these criticisms, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze defends the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s actions, stating that they need to properly investigate all information. However, he also acknowledges that these changes were made under the previous administration and have been in effect since then.
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