Kobakhidze criticises US embassy, USAID for actions contrary to Georgian people's interests

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has sharply criticized the actions of the US Embassy in Georgia, USAID, and the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), accusing them of working against the interests of the Georgian people and state.

In a statement made in Kazakhstan, Kobakhidze said: “The U.S. Embassy in Georgia and USAID, as well as NED and other institutions, acted in concert against the Georgian people and the Georgian state,” Caliber.Az reports, citing Georgian media reports.

Kobakhidze expressed hope that under the new administration, the US Embassy's approach to the Georgian people and the Georgian state will change and the ugly coordination that existed between the Embassy, USAID, NED and other relevant structures will stop.

“As far as changes are concerned, they should equally affect USAID, NED and the Embassy's activities. We very much hope that under the new administration, first of all, the approach of the US Embassy to the Georgian people and the Georgian state will change and the ugly coordination that existed between the Embassy, USAID, NED and other relevant structures will stop,” the premier added. 

To recall, Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has consistently criticized the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) over its operations in Georgia. In February 2025, Papuashvili expressed concerns about the inconsistency between the declared policies of the U.S. administration and the actions of certain donor-funded NGOs and political groups in Georgia. He highlighted the need for transparency regarding foreign funding in Georgia's political processes and called for a review of such activities.

In January 2025, he called for an investigation into USAID's role in disseminating false results of the parallel vote tabulation during the 2020 elections. The speaker expressed concerns that USAID's involvement in spreading inaccurate election data nearly led to societal chaos. He emphasized the need for transparency regarding USAID's funding and its potential impact on Georgia's political processes.

In early 2024, Papuashvili accused USAID of financing activities that promote religious intolerance and undermine the Georgian Orthodox Church. He referred to criticism of the Church's handling of a scandal involving an icon featuring Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin. Papuashvili suggested that USAID's funding of certain organizations contributed to societal division and conflict.

By Khagan Isayev