Georgian Parliament official claims USAID, other foreign funding mechanisms were actually intended to subvert domestic political processes

Levan Makhashvili, the Chair of the Committee on European Integration of the Georgian Parliament, on Wednesday claimed the United States Agency for International Development and other foreign funding mechanisms were actually intended to subvert domestic political processes.

In his remarks, Makhashvili noted that the USAID, once a symbol of hope for many nations, had now become a tool for informal influence.

“USAID was once a source of hope for many countries. However, what we are observing now and what the public has seen from the leaked documents is that USAID has in fact become a tool of informal influence and a cover for illegal activities that were carried out in Georgia and beyond. This is not said by Levan Makhashvili, but by the United States President, Secretary of State and other high-ranking United States officials”, the Parliament official said.

He further added that USAID and other foreign funds’ financial schemes were specifically aimed at distorting and overturning Georgia’s electoral and political processes.

“Funds will no longer be spent on illegal political activities in Georgia, and the media will have the opportunity to be independent and focused on local needs. USAID has implemented some beneficial projects, but in many cases, it was used as a mere façade. There were also projects that undermined democracy”, Makhashvili concluded.