“Organizations financed by the Swedish government orchestrated heinous attacks on Rustaveli Avenue yesterday, yet the ambassador proceeded to decorate the memorial with flowers. We are awaiting a clear response from the embassy to put an end to this hypocrisy,” stated Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Parliament.

He highlighted that these organizations have identifiable donors, pointing out that the Swedish state funds Transparency International, a registered entity in Estonia.

“What transpired yesterday was nothing short of disgraceful. A small group of individuals on Rustaveli Avenue trampled the memory of those who perished on April 9 and disregarded the ideals for which the people gathered that day in 1989 to oppose the Soviet army.

These individuals tarnished the very essence for which the national movement fought. However, the situation reveals even deeper issues; it was not merely an isolated incident. We know that it was orchestrated by specific non-governmental organizations, including Transparency International, Safari, and Sirtsvilia (Shame Movement), as well as Lomjaria’s NGO, which had been actively organizing events to prevent individuals they deemed unacceptable from attending gatherings on Rustaveli.

Their primary aim was to provoke confrontation within society. Once they failed to achieve that goal, they resorted to violence. The problem lies not just with the individuals involved but also with the organizations that financed this provocation. These entities have identifiable donors. Transparency International, as an organization registered in Estonia, is funded by the Swedish government.

Therefore, it was, in fact, the Swedish representation that was shouting yesterday, not merely employees of some Georgian NGO. We witnessed shouting, violence, and assaults against a city council member, a representative of the Autonomous Republic of Abkhazia, and other citizens, including participants of April 9 who traditionally visit the memorial.

The question we pose to the Swedish ambassador is this: Is this what they are financing in Georgia—to oppose the Georgian people? The Swedish embassy must take responsibility for the attacks on members of the Sakrebulo (the City Council) and citizens who were present yesterday, perpetrated by organizations funded by them,” Papuashvili asserted.

He expressed concern over the growing association of hatred, contempt, violence, lies, disinformation, and propaganda with European funding.

“Yesterday, we witnessed the hysteria of individuals who are emotionally detached from both Rustaveli Avenue and April 9; regrettably, they also lack any real connection to Georgia. They appear to act on directives from external sources aimed at inciting confrontation. Thus, the full responsibility for the revolting actions we observed yesterday rests with specific embassies and donors. Their complicity in what is happening is undeniable.

We saw the Georgian Rodionovs in disguise amongst those orchestrating the chaos, orchestrated by non-governmental organizations backed by particular donors from European budgets, including the European Union. When they do not distance themselves from this fascism but instead finance it—along with attacks, terror, hatred, propaganda, and disinformation—the responsibility lies squarely with these donors. We shall see how they respond to this situation,” Papuashvili concluded.

He added, “We await a clear answer regarding whether the Swedish Embassy will distance itself from the terror orchestrated by the organizations it finances against the participants of April 9, the representatives of the Sakrebulo, the Abkhaz government, and concerned citizens.”