Today's decision of the Prime Minister-controlled Anti-Corruption Bureau which declares  "Transparency International-Georgia" and its director as an entity with declared electoral  goals, goes beyond the framework of the constitution and national legislation and shows  the government's fear of the observation missions. 

The Bureau's decision declares everyone who speaks about public problems and citizens'  needs as a political actor. With this decision, the Bureau has given itself the power to  impose censorship and start financially monitoring anyone who speaks out that our path  leads only to the EU. Moreover, according to this definition, political activities are consid ered to be the goals that non-governmental organizations serve - whether it is the protec tion of the interests of women, children, and disabled people or taking care of ecology. The  Bureau considers any activity that has a constitutional purpose to be political activity and is  a subject of attack. 

Thus, it is obvious that the "Georgian Dream" has turned its bureau into a mechanism for  attacking civil society instead of fighting corruption. The Venice Commission noted last year  that the creation of the Bureau, its powers, accountability, and independence were funda mentally flawed. According to the conclusion, the Bureau lacks sufficient guarantees of  independence and impartiality, is weak in terms of monitoring the declarations of high-level  officials, and the appointment and dismissal of its head, instead of multi-party parliamenta ry support, is only in the hands of the Prime Minister. The Bureau was created as the puni tive apparatus of the Prime Minister against the Georgian non-governmental sector. The  government has started to enforce the Russian law using this bureau. 

The decision of the bureau shows the government's fear of monitoring missions. The "My  Voice to the European Union" coalition, which unites more than 30 organizations, is planning  an unprecedented large-scale observation mission - "My Voice" to freely express the will of  the Georgian people on October 26. We are following the Georgian people's aspiration to the  European Union, reinforced by Article 78 of the Constitution of Georgia, and party-based  attacks cannot stop our work. We will continue the European integration of Georgia, protec tion of democratic values, equality, freedom of speech, and fair elections.