“I wonder why the British Embassy is surprised that individuals who relinquished their mandates on the second day of the parliamentary elections and refused to enter the parliament are receiving funding,” said Levan Makhashvili, Chairman of the Parliament’s European Integration Committee.

According to Makhashvili, the British Ambassador either has no idea whom they are funding or, if they are aware, this forms deliberate support for radicalism and propaganda.

“The funds are being directed to party-affiliated television stations and also to members of the United National Movement list, specifically those who gave up their mandates immediately after the parliamentary elections. When such individuals are recipients of funding, I have to ask: why is the British Embassy surprised? There are two possibilities—either the British Ambassador is unaware of who they are supporting, or, if they do know, then this is an intentional act of backing radicalism and propaganda. Let them decide for themselves whether it’s one or the other,” Makhashvili stated.

The British Embassy in Georgia released a statement on Facebook, reading: “There are currently no mechanisms or deadlines for decision-making regarding the grant approval process. Unfortunately, due to this uncertainty, we are forced to cancel planned grant initiatives aimed at supporting transparency and competitiveness in the upcoming municipal elections.”