Maka Botchorishvili, Georgia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that claims that individual rights are restricted in Georgia and that NGOs cannot operate freely are simply untrue.

Botchorishvili also remarked that the responses provided by the German government regarding funding in Georgia only serve to raise further questions.

“Our call for transparency is not only vital for our society but also for the German public and other nations whose taxpayers’ money is being used to support activities in Georgia that remain undisclosed. This is deeply concerning. On one hand, if these organisations are carrying out beneficial work for Georgian society and the state, it is inconceivable that such efforts should be kept hidden from the Georgian people, and even more so from the society that funds them through taxes,” she stated.

The official website of the German government published answers to questions posed by the Alternative for Germany (AfD) party concerning the funding of non-governmental organisations in Georgia and the involvement of the German Embassy and German Ambassador Peter Fischer in this process.