Georgian FM slams foreign-funded radicalism after prank call to Zourabichvili

Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili has criticised elements within the country’s political sphere for allegedly receiving illicit foreign funding aimed at fuelling radicalism and undermining national stability.

Her comments followed a high-profile prank incident involving former President Salome Zourabichvili and former ombudsman of Georgia — now head of the NGO “Institute for the Study of Democracy” Ucha Nanuashvili, both of whom were targeted by notorious Russian pranksters Vladimir Kuznetsov (Vovan) and Alexei Stolyarov (Lexus). The pranksters posed as opposition figure Garry Kasparov during phone conversations with the two public figures.

"Essentially, we have not heard anything new. We know what these people serve and where they get their funding from. Because we knew and identified this, we considered it a challenge for our society and our country’s democratic development," the minister said, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

During the call, Zourabichvili and Nanuashvili expressed concerns about shrinking access to international funding for Georgian non-governmental organisations. Nanuashvili further claimed that unofficial armed groups have been present during recent protest rallies in the country.

Minister Botchorishvili used the opportunity to urge international donors to reconsider their involvement in Georgia.

"Donors who try to present themselves to Georgian society as good people who care about the Georgian people and the Georgian society need to reflect on this," she said.

By Vugar Khalilov