The opposition should be aware that it is possible for the state to fund non-governmental organizations - this is the pressure of the radical opposition on non-governmental organizations so that they do not receive funding from the state, - this is how the Minister of Justice, Rati Bregadze, answered the journalist's question about how he would respond to the statement of some opposition leaders that funding of the non-governmental sector from the state budget will question the objectivity and independence of the organization's activities.
According to the minister, there is a full legal possibility that non-governmental organizations were financed from the state budget.
Besides, according to Bregadze, the Prime Minister's initiative to create a grant fund for non-governmental organizations serves to strengthen the non-governmental sector.
"It is completely permissible that non-governmental organizations were financed by the state. I will tell you more, in fact, for the third year, we have announced a grant competition of the Ministry of Justice, within the framework of which we finance both individuals and non-governmental organizations. There is a full legal possibility for this.
As for the Prime Minister's initiative, it is really welcome and serves both to strengthen non-governmental organizations and to involve the public in the implementation of state interests.
As for the statements of the opposition, it is, I think, the fault of incompetence or deliberate lies and misinformation. As a rule, they should know that non-governmental organizations can be financed by the state. I will also say that this is the pressure of the radical opposition on non-governmental organizations so that they do not receive funding from the state. Here, it is completely unclear why a Georgian non-governmental organization cannot receive funding from its own state and, at the same time, from a foreign state as well. This is completely incredible. Those who will receive funding from the Georgian state, of course, are not limited to the possibility of receiving funding from a foreign state or various foreign funds. It is not clear why a person should refuse the opportunity to receive more funding and, accordingly, to implement more projects," said the Minister of Justice.
