“Instead of the EU Ambassador lecturing the Georgian people on morality, they should disclose every cent; this especially applies to the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), which money is being spent on fuelling radicalism,” Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili told journalists.

Responding to a question about the airport incident involving former Georgian President Salome Zourabichvili, Papuashvili stated, “This environment of hatred is externally imposed, fostered, among other things, by the injection of millions in foreign funding designed to divide and polarize society.”

“This is utterly unacceptable, and a fitting response from all parties is crucial. Moreover, everyone must acknowledge this reality, particularly the donors and certain ambassadors who are cultivating an environment of hatred, intolerance, and discord within Georgia, facilitated by their funding. Instead of the EU Ambassador lecturing the Georgian people on morality, I would expect full transparency regarding every cent of EU funding in Georgia. This expectation is especially pertinent to the European Endowment for Democracy (EED), whose resources are being directly channelled into fuelling radicalism and financing extremist groups. The Ambassador is fully aware of this, down to the specific projects and amounts funded by the EED, yet withholds this information from the Georgian people. Therefore, if anyone wishes to address morality, they should begin by examining their own actions and openly disclose to the Georgian people how the EED’s funds are being spent.

If they dare to disclose EED’s funding, you’ll read everything there. You’ll see who was funding the ‘Molotov cocktail’ campaign and how this environment of hatred was being created in Georgia. You’ll see how the EED was financing political parties that are instigating hatred and discord in Georgia. The answer lies in the undeniable fact that this environment was, in part, engineered through foreign funding, a reality the United States has exposed in recent weeks.

Let me remind you that President Trump’s executive order, concerning the suspension of foreign funding, explicitly cited the destabilizing influence of this aid, and its hindrance of harmonious development, as justification for its action. Does anyone genuinely believe this was solely an American phenomenon? Are we unaware of the European Endowment for Democracy’s funding of ‘Sirtskhvilia’s’ ‘Molotov cocktail’ campaign, or the ‘Droa’ initiative? Are we oblivious to its support for disinformation? We possess all this knowledge. Why is the EU delegation concealing these truths from us? Therefore, the conclusion is clear: this is an absolutely unacceptable reality, and every individual should condemn such actions unequivocally. This is an externally imposed environment of hatred, meticulously cultivated, in part, by the injection of millions in foreign funding, designed to deliberately divide and polarize our society,” Papuashvili asserted.

According to him, the sowing of hatred was funded through known and unknown funds.

“To uncover the source of the pervasive environment of hatred, one need only scrutinize the funding allocations of the European Endowment for Democracy and demand that the EU Ambassador disclose these financial transactions. Similarly, an examination of USAID and National Endowment for Democracy (NED) funding, as well as the disbursements of various other funds, both known and unknown, will reveal that these resources are being intentionally used to foster an environment of hatred. It is here, in the deliberate allocation of these funds, that the origin and catalyst of this toxic atmosphere in Georgian society can be found. The current US administration has acknowledged this reality, and we are witnessing daily revelations about the mishandling of these funds.

I have previously called upon various European funds, including those of the EU and its member states, to account for their actions, but they have chosen to remain silent. I reiterate that no one can evade responsibility for the consequences of their funding. The results are plain to see: the sowing of discord and hatred. We see it manifest on the streets, where individuals, often backed by these very funds, actively promote and perpetuate this environment of hostility. The reasons behind the creation of this environment of hatred are clear. When an EU-funded journalist publicly advocates for violence, suggesting ’84 bullets for traitors,’ and the EU Ambassador fails to condemn such rhetoric, it is evident where the problem lies. Similarly, when an EU-funded Factcheck employee confronts and verbally abuses a member of parliament, only to be met with silence from the EU Ambassador, it lays bare the foundation of this environment of hatred. There are numerous such examples, each representing a direct incitement to create an atmosphere of hostility and intolerance,” Papuashvili stated.

According to the Parliament Speaker, all donors should distance themselves from organizations that conduct hate campaigns.

“We are confronted with the stark reality that organizations fostering an environment of hatred are frequently financed by a multitude of foreign funds, and this is an absolutely unacceptable and revolting phenomenon. It is particularly obvious when donors who underwrite these organizations remain mute in the face of this fact. Despite my direct and repeated assertions on this matter, they persist in concealing the truth and refusing to respond. Consequently, every instance of an environment of hatred will be thoroughly investigated, and behind each case, we will uncover the donors and financiers responsible, exposing them for their complicity,” stated Shalva Papuashvili.