Georgia accuses EU of funding extremism, vows to present video evidence

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has accused European institutions of directly financing and encouraging extremist activities in Georgia, claiming his government holds video evidence to back the allegations.

"When we talk to the Europeans, we say, 'We have facts, counter them with your facts, not lies and general statements, but facts. When we say to you that you are encouraging extremism, we back it up with facts, with videos, with your funding practices.’ We have facts of how these people finance extremism in our country," Kobakhidze told Georgian journalists, Caliber.Az reports via TASS.

Kobakhidze criticised what he described as the EU’s “dismissive attitude toward Georgia’s concerns.” 

“Their reluctance to address our evidence is deeply regrettable,” he said, stressing that the Georgian government had raised these issues during direct meetings with European representatives.

Protests have rocked Georgia since November 28, when the government announced it would freeze talks on joining the European Union. In the early days of the demonstrations, tensions flared as riot police used tear gas and water cannons against protesters, some of whom retaliated with pyrotechnics. Dozens of demonstrators were charged with criminal offenses, and hundreds were detained.

By Sabina Mammadli