Georgian PM: USAID, NED funds used to destabilise Georgia facing Russian occupation

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Wednesday voiced strong criticism over the misuse of Western funding to destabilise Georgia, while reaffirming the country's existing security challenges - including the ongoing occupation of 20 percent of its territory by Russia.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Kobakhidze noted that certain entities had been actively creating artificial problems for the country, diverting resources and attention from pressing issues.

“There is our small country, which already faces significant challenges, with 20 percent of our territories occupied by Russia, there are many challenges around us, and at such a time, someone has time to completely focus on creating artificial problems for our country. Money from USAID, NED and other endowments was spent on this”, the PM said.

Kobakhidze further elaborated on what he described as a broader geopolitical strategy that envisioned Georgia and Ukraine jointly engaging in war against Russia.

“A war broke out between Russia and Ukraine as part of that scenario, but Georgia did not engage. Initially, there were direct demands for us to join; when we refused, the pressure turned indirect - calls to impose sanctions, send volunteer fighters, and so on. We rejected those as well. After that, a wave of aggression began to emerge against Georgia”, he concluded.