In the interview, Panov noted that some governments use transparency not as a real argument but as an excuse to limit the enabling environment for civil society, which in turn limits access to resources.
In the interview, Panov gave the example of Georgia's Draft Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, which does not cover foreign-owned or foreign-funded commercial companies, but targets civil society organizations and media outlets that receive more than 20% of their income from foreign funding sources.
Noting that in Azerbaijan, CSOs need permission to receive foreign funding, while in Belarus foreign funding is only allowed for specific goals or organizations, Panov said that Georgia is not unique in this regard and is just one example of a trend observed in different parts of the world.
Governments can use FATF standards to block civilian space
Panov said that governments can also use Financial Action Task Force (FATF) standards on anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism to hinder the activities of the civic space. Citing Serbia as an example, Panov said that government officials in Serbia tried to obtain information on the bank accounts of 50 CSOs and individuals, citing anti-terrorism and anti-money laundering standards.
Noting that FATF standards are designed to protect CSOs from terrorism-related financing and that what happened in Serbia directly contradicts FATF standards, Panov said that FATF has issued a statement saying that "any measure used to suppress human rights under the pretext of combating terrorism is categorically unacceptable."
Panov also gave an example from Turkey, saying that in 2020, the government adopted restrictive legislation affecting the activities of CSOs, making online fundraising campaigns more difficult and restricting CSOs' ability to raise funds.
How can CSOs respond to government actions with transparency?
Panov said that transparency and accountability to government actions is crucial for CSOs to fulfill their missions as well as to combat disinformation, and that CSOs need to be open, communicate with people and include volunteers, supporters, members, donors, etc. in their processes.
Underlining that this will be especially important when governments try to take restrictive measures or launch negative campaigns against CSOs, Panov said: "If people know what CSOs stand for and what they do, these tactics are doomed to fail. If a person works for or is associated with a particular CSO and shares its mission, he or she will not believe the government's accusation that the organization represents foreign interests."
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