EU's financial support for protests in Georgia: A push for political change? Expert opinions on Caliber.Az

The European Union is funding participation in anti-government protests in Georgia, claims the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (FIS). According to Brussels, these protests are meant to demonstrate the strength of pro-European views among the republic’s citizens. "The EU delegation in Tbilisi has been allocated significant funds to maintain and coordinate the demonstrations. Each participant in the anti-government protests is set to receive up to 120 euros per day for their 'work,'" stated the FIS.

According to the agency, EU leadership is determined to "bring Georgia back to the path of democracy and European integration," ensuring that this "important stronghold of Western influence in the South Caucasus" is not lost. Brussels plans to unite opposition parties into a "single force" aimed against the ruling Georgian Dream.

"Given the ongoing global trend of national-conservative shifts, the EU has decided to move from ineffective liberal promises to political pressure in its work with Georgian politicians and society," stated the FIS.

As the service notes, there is a consideration of sponsoring protests through the embassies of European countries in Armenia.

What does such information indicate? It seems that the European Union is highly interested in ensuring that protest activity in Georgia does not subside, continuing on. They are even willing to pay for it. So, what is the ultimate goal? What are they hoping for?

Foreign experts shared their opinions on this matter with Caliber.Az.

Russian political scientist and Director of the Center for Strategic Studies of the South Caucasus Countries, Yevgeny Mikhailov, stated that he was not surprised by the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service’s information about Brussels financing the protests in Georgia through Armenia.

"I had previously suggested in my comments that large sums of cash, bypassing Georgian government control, were being brought into the country through the Armenian-Georgian border. The European Union does not like the independent choice of the Georgian people, who have considered their national interests to be more important than those of the global West. Unlike Yerevan, Tbilisi is strengthening its partnership with Azerbaijan and did not support sanctions against Russia. Against this backdrop, it is important to note that Tbilisi actively prevents the supply of weapons through its ports to Armenia. This greatly displeases Brussels, which has increased pressure on Tbilisi. Moreover, Georgia refused to host the dual-use biolaboratory — the Lugar Center. And where, do you think, is it moving? To Armenia, closer to the Zangezur Corridor," the researcher said.

According to his information, there are already 10 dual-use laboratories in Armenia, to which international experts are not allowed access.

"Russian specialists were also denied entry. The Lugar Center had previously been involved in a leak of combat and pathogenic viruses in Georgia, which resulted in human casualties and livestock deaths. And now, this ticking time bomb will be at the borders with Azerbaijan, posing a significant threat in the future. It is evident that the Pashinyan regime, lacking any advantage over the Azerbaijani army, might resort to biological warfare.

Therefore, the reasons why Brussels and France are destabilizing Georgia are clear. The West has only one puppet left in the South Caucasus — Armenia. And through it, a threat to stability is now being created for the entire region," Mikhailov explained.

Political scientist, Director of the Caucasus Center for Islamic Studies, and expert at the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation, Shota Apkhaidze, noted in turn that the information from the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service is no longer a secret.

"It is known that people attending these protests receive between 60 lari, 120 lari, or even 50 euros from the organizers. This is no secret, it always happens like this in Georgia.

I have no information regarding the money for these purposes coming through Armenia. We know that the Armenian government has chosen a pro-Western path, and this is also no secret. They openly declare it, saying they want to integrate into NATO and the European Union, and that’s clear. But Georgia has been striving for these goals separately from Armenia, even before it.

Now, in Georgia, there is the so-called pro-Western opposition (as they call themselves), consisting of political parties, NGOs, and certain social groups – ultra-liberal and ultra-secular, who very much want to contribute to the destructive political processes. They have always received and continue to receive funding. And this involves not only foreigners. The same oligarchs who emerged during the Saakashvili regime, who stole a lot of money, are still funding these protests. The European Union is involved, using various funds," said the center's director.

According to him, all of this is, of course, done in order to maintain the influence on internal Georgian political processes that have been under Western control for the past 30 years.

"The West would like to see continued tension, escalation, and the deepening of civil confrontation, hoping that in this way the protesters will be able to overthrow the current government in Georgia. That is what they are betting on. And even if they don’t manage to overthrow the government, at least they want to maintain their influence over part of society, ensuring that there is always destruction in Georgia," explained Apkhaidze.