Georgia’s ruling party official: opposition groups competing for foreign support

Levan Machavariani, First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, on Thursday claimed the Georgian opposition had become increasingly divided amid a reduction in foreign funding, arguing that opposition groups had grown more reliant on financial support from Brussels following the closure of USAID and NED programmes.

Speaking to Imedi TV, Machavariani said opposition figures were engaged in infighting and facing a serious shortage of funding.

“I want to use the most polite language possible. I do not recall such a marginalised opposition in the history of independent Georgia. They have now turned on one another because their funding has been reduced. After Mr. Trump shut down USAID and NED, they were left dependent on funds from Brussels and are now competing to demonstrate to their external patrons who holds greater influence within the opposition field, in hopes of securing increased funding and privileges”, he said.

Machavariani further argued that opposition groups were struggling financially and linked the situation to the implementation of Georgia’s transparency law.

“These people cannot stand one another and are facing a serious funding shortage. Since we enacted Georgia’s transparency law, we have closed many loopholes and are preventing the circulation of illicit funds. There are two years remaining until 2028, and in the meantime, proceedings before the Constitutional Court are ongoing. We have high expectations that an objective decision will be delivered, and then we will see who remains in the political arena. The fewer agents that remain, the better it will be for Georgia’s development”, Machavariani concluded.