Parliament Speaker alleges “hate environment” fostered by EU funding in Georgia

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Tuesday said that a “hate environment” was being sown in Georgia from external sources, specifically pointing to funding from the European Union.

He described it as a "catastrophe" that EU money was being used to spread hatred in the country, and criticised the EU Ambassador for remaining silent on the matter.

“Among them, the rally the day before yesterday, which was organised by EU-funded organisations and from which the EU Embassy has not distanced itself, meaning it seemingly shares the pathos of this rally. At the rally, there were calls for overthrow, violence, fighters, etc. A hate environment is also being sown through the use of hate speech”, the Speaker said.

He referenced recent instances where “several individuals funded by the European Union were fined for insulting various political officials, openly cursing in public spaces”.

Papuashvili again noted the EU Embassy's silence, interpreting it as an endorsement of this “hate environment”.