“We are not a colony”: Georgia cracks down on foreign-funded politics Expert opinions on Caliber.Az

The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, stated that foreign-funded political activities in the country promote harmful agendas and are carried out without the consent of society.

Commenting on the upcoming amendments to the Law on Grants, he noted that anyone spending money on political activity in Georgia “should at least consult the Georgian people.”

“We are not anyone’s colony, for someone to come here and arrange everything on their own terms. It is like kicking the door open, walking in, and moving the furniture around whether people like it or not,” Papuashvili said, questioning who and when asks Georgian society for approval before funding political processes in the country.

The statement comes amid proposals for amendments that would introduce criminal liability for foreign funding of political or civil activities without government approval.

Under the proposed changes, almost any foreign financial contribution could be classified as an attempt to influence the country’s socio-political life and would require prior government permission. Violations could result in fines, community service, or imprisonment for up to 12 years.

“It is important to get answers directly from the European Union itself, its embassy, as well as from the embassies of EU member states: whether they financed these fraudulent schemes with European money and used fake NGOs to bypass Georgian legislation and channel political funds,” the Speaker of Parliament emphasised.

According to Papuashvili, foreign money has no place in Georgian politics, as such practices violate international legal norms and undermine, among other things, the reputation of the European Union.

What role could the upcoming amendments to the Law on Grants play? Will they bring tangible benefits to Georgia’s political landscape?

Renowned Georgian experts shared their views on this issue with Caliber.Az.

The political secretary of the party United Neutral Georgia and political analyst, Bidzina Giorgobiani, stated that funds coming into Georgia from international foundations always serve specific purposes.

“Every country or organisation that provides grants in Georgia—whether Sweden, Germany, the United States, France, or the European Union—has its own interests. These funds are not given arbitrarily; they are grants allocated for the performance of particular work.

The activities we have observed over the past 25–30 years are subversive in nature and serve the interests of foreign states, not Georgia.

This process involves the economy, the public administration system, universities, and various institutions that have been influenced by foreign foundations and NGOs for decades. This is precisely why a strict grant law was initiated. At the same time, there is another important point that deserves special attention.

About a month ago, a representative from Brussels stated that the European Union is seeking ways to circumvent financing the NGO sector in Georgia. One such scheme was found: Georgian non-governmental organisations were registered in Estonia, where they received funding from the EU. These funds were then transferred or brought in cash to Georgia and used to finance various anti-state activities. This law is specifically aimed at preventing such schemes,” the politician explained.

He noted that the party United Neutral Georgia views the upcoming amendments positively.

“We support this approach because it is necessary to finally adopt a law that will prevent other states from financing coups and similar processes here.

I believe these amendments will bring tangible benefits to Georgia’s political landscape, as well as to the development of truly independent political forces and non-governmental organisations. Until today, opposition parties and NGOs were almost entirely funded from Brussels and other European capitals. Moreover, they received not only funds but also instructions on how to act and which steps to take in Georgia.

Such activities took place from 2020 to 2025. During this period, four attempts at a coup were recorded in the country. Going forward, the work of such organisations must strictly comply with the law,” Giorgobiani stated.

Analyst Irakli Lataria, in turn, noted that the Speaker of Parliament was speaking too mildly.

“Because in my country, problems have been solved for decades, not by governments, but by agents who receive millions from abroad. For the first time in Georgia’s history, the authorities have begun listening to Georgians, not some alliance. Until the 1990s, that was the Soviet Union; today, it is Europe,” he said.

According to the analyst, Georgia is a proud country, but there are organisations operating not for the benefit of the state, but against their own people, while receiving funding from foreign countries.

“These are precisely agents of foreign states. Everyone who receives money to act against Georgia must be held accountable. It would be appropriate to adopt a law under which all ‘enemies of the people’ end up in prison and never come out again. I know Georgia’s history well, and I can say: internal enemies have always caused us far more harm than external ones,” Lataria concluded.