Some of the Western funding went to radical organizations that attacked the Georgian parliament on May 1 during protests against the passage of the law on foreign agents, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament Shalva Papuashvili told reporters on May 4.
Papuashvili cited the example of a banner by the NGO Shame, which shows a Molotov cocktail in the colors of the Ukrainian flag, accompanied by the stars of the EU flag with the inscription “I shot”, in support of the use of the Molotov cocktail . a year ago during protests against the first attempt to pass a law on foreign agents.
“During the demonstrations, the Shame movement was funded by American and European taxpayers through the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and the European Fund for Democracy (an organization considered objectionable in the Russian Federation) (EED). “They recently approached Georgian NGOs and encouraged them to continue their strong protest against the Georgian government.”said the speaker of the Georgian Parliament.
He also cited as an example a statement by MEP David McAllister, who expressed solidarity with the protest and who is also president of the European Fund for Democracy (an organization recognized as undesirable in the Russian Federation) in Georgia.
According to him, a year ago the ruling Georgian Dream party withdrew the bill on transparency of foreign financing based on mutual understanding with strategic partners that this financing would be made public to the Georgian public. After this, the Georgian authorities asked the NED and the EED (an organization recognized as undesirable in the Russian Federation) several times to do this and cooperate, he added.
“Its financing in Georgia is problematic because it is not transparent. Our respected foreign colleagues recognize that some subsidies are problematic in the context of democracy and the rule of law. However, despite our concerns, neither the NED nor the EED supported our application. The public receives information about funding channels only through posts by political beneficiaries on social media. “At least some of this funding goes to radical organizations that have been involved in violent events in recent days, including the attack on parliament.”Papuashvili said.
Recall that on May 1, the parliament of Georgia adopted in second reading the law “On Transparency of Foreign Influence”, which provides for the annual submission of financial statements for non-governmental organizations and media funded by more than 20 percent . from abroad, and does not imply prohibitions or sanctions. Plans to pass this bill sparked harsh criticism from the West and days of protests by pro-Western opposition and NGOs, which turned into riots.
On May 2, US Ambassador to Georgia Robin Dunnigan reported that members of the Georgian government declined a visit to Washington at the invitation of the US side to discuss strategic partnership and financial assistance.
Source: Rossa Primavera
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