“The opposition and certain NGOs have openly announced plans for violence on May 26. To put it bluntly, either donors and embassies distance themselves from violence and terror, or they will bear responsibility for it,” the Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili stated.

According to him, the opposition is openly speaking about potential casualties and radicalization.

“I’m not concerned with who is meeting whom, but I am closely watching how many meetings diplomats are holding—especially after these statements from the opposition and NGOs. The opposition is openly speaking about victims and radicalization. Unfortunately, based on past experience, we have little reason to expect anything constructive from them. That’s why the stance of some ambassadors is particularly important.

We saw on April 9 how violent groups—including NGO-affiliated ones—attempted to provoke unrest. They even prevented participants of the April 9 commemoration from approaching the memorial. Despite this, the ambassadors funding these NGOs remained silent. Over a month has passed, and we have yet to hear a single condemnation from donors about the violence near the memorial that day.

Now, once again, certain NGOs and political groups are openly threatening provocations and violence. Let me be clear: if any NGO becomes involved in violence again, responsibility will lie with the donors who have remained silent. Either they clearly reject violence, terror, and hatred—or they accept accountability for it,” Papuashvili concluded.