The U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) Representation in Georgia remarked on the statement of Georgian Parliament Speaker, Shalva Papuashvili.

USAID told the GPB’s First Channel that it keeps constant and transparent communication with the Georgian government.

“The U.S. government, through USAID, works with many organizations to support tolerance within the framework of the country’s promotion and for the benefit of Georgia. We have constant, open and transparent communication with the Government of Georgia on how our programs support Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” it said.

Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili said that the participation of so-called civic activists in attacks against the Georgian Orthodox Church is “especially disturbing.” He said one of the participants of the campaign is Beka Mindiashvili, Head of the Tolerance Center at the Public Defender’s Office, whose “hostile rhetoric” is “cynical.”

The Parliament Speaker remarked that the Tolerance Center is financed by USAID within the framework of the Unity is in Diversity” program. Shalva Papuashvili urged USAID management to probe into the matter and act in the best interests of the American and Georgian people.