MP Machavariani: Opposition is fighting over who will receive funding from external patrons

Georgian Dream parliamentary majority member Levan Machavariani said “external patrons” want to create the impression that Lelo and the Gakharia for Georgia party are acting according to an independent agenda.

Machavariani also said that confrontation within the opposition camp is a natural process because their funding has been significantly reduced and they are now trying to promote themselves in an effort to secure funding from external patrons.

“We have spoken many times about how, on the one hand, this is an artificial process and external patrons want to keep Lelo and Gakharia for Georgia behind all this noise, in order to create the impression in the eyes of the public that these two parties are developing an independent agenda. This, of course, has been planned by external patrons.

“On the other hand, this is a natural process, because these people cannot stand each other, they hate one another, and external funding has been significantly reduced. On the one hand, President Trump banned USAID and NED, while on the other hand, our laws have taken effect and closed many loopholes for the agent-based opposition, preventing black money from circulating in Georgia.

“They are fighting among themselves over who will receive the scarce funding. They want to prove to their external patrons that they are the ones setting the agenda on Georgia’s opposition scene and, accordingly, they want funding from external patrons. Whoever is the favorite receives more funding and enjoys more privileges,” Machavariani said.