Georgian parliament speaker demands transparency from UK’s embassy over election funding

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has publicly accused the British Embassy in Georgia of attempting to finance propaganda and extremist groups, demanding full transparency regarding the embassy’s funding related to the upcoming 2024 parliamentary elections.

The controversy follows the British Embassy’s announcement on June 11 that it would suspend issuing grants aimed at promoting transparency and competitiveness for the local government elections scheduled for October 4, Caliber.Az reports via Georgian media.

The embassy cited “emerging uncertainties” caused by recent changes in Georgia’s grant regulations as the reason for the suspension. In response, Papuashvili called on the embassy to disclose the identities and amounts of all recipients of its election-related funding, both past and present.

He also urged anyone with information about the embassy’s financial activities to come forward. The speaker of the parliament further alleged that after the embassy’s statement, it became apparent that the diplomatic mission’s funding efforts were intended to support partisan propaganda and extremist politicians, with the aim of undermining the local elections.

By Naila Huseynova