Georgian chairman claims EU funds hidden in opposition support

Chairman of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili has accused foreign donors of concealing information about their financial support for opposition parties in Georgia, claiming that funds are being funneled through non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in violation of the law.

Papuashvili's statements come amid ongoing scrutiny and controversy over NGO funding in Georgia, Caliber.Az reports with reference to the Georgian media.

The Georgian authorities have long accused NGOs of political interference and failing to disclose their funding sources and objectives. Papuashvili specifically pointed to allegations that opposition parties, including the party "Droa" are secretly financed by the EU budget through NGOs, thereby bypassing legal restrictions.

“Donors aim to keep the public in the dark about the fact that parties are being covertly funded from the EU budget,” Papuashvili stated. “For instance, donors would prefer that the Georgian population remains unaware that they are financing movements such as ‘Shame,’ which has been involved in controversial actions like romanticising the Molotov cocktail.”

The "Shame" movement has been at the center of recent protests, including demonstrations against the proposed law on "foreign agents" in March 2023. These protests included rallies featuring posters in support of Lazare Grigoriadis, who was convicted of throwing a Molotov cocktail at police.

Papuashvili also criticised the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), noting its management by certain Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) who, he claims, spread disinformation about Georgia. He suggested that these MEPs, who manage the EED, influence NGOs to align with their narrative, creating a significant imbalance in the Georgian civil sector.

“The NGOs that dominate the sector intimidate smaller NGOs, fearing that any dissent will result in their exclusion from donor funding. This situation has created an environment where corruption and manipulation are evident,” Papuashvili added.

The ruling party in Georgia has further alleged that funds from the US National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and EED are being channeled into accounts of fictitious NGOs linked to political parties, intensifying the debate over foreign influence and NGO funding in the country.