Georgian Parliament Speaker accuses EU-funded NGOs of spreading xenophobia

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday issued a sharply worded response to a statement made by Baia Pataraia, the head of the domestic NGO Sapari, accusing her of spreading xenophobia under the guise of pro-European rhetoric.

In a social media message, Papuashvili claimed that the European Union Embassy would neither condemn nor distance itself from the xenophobia of its grantees.

“Of course, this is xenophobia, and of course, this is xenophobia funded and encouraged by the European Union embassy. No ‘Russia is waging war’ justifies xenophobia. Many countries have waged wars and many are still waging them today, where people die, but this does not give anyone the right to single out ethnicities and turn them into objects of hatred”, the Speaker said.

He emphasised that such rhetoric was alien to Georgian values, which he described as rooted in tolerance and endurance despite centuries of hardship.

“This is at odds with the Georgian worldview. It should also be against general European principles - at least those of the last 80 years. If we as a nation had chosen hatred and bitterness in response to our suffering, we wouldn’t have survived as a people for millennia”, he continued.

Papuashvili went on to criticise non-governmental organisations, claiming that they were disconnected from Georgian society and were promoting hatred and division.

“We all remember the xenophobic campaign led by these same NGOs in 2022. Back then, a woman of Slavic appearance - later found to have lived in Georgia for years was stoned on Chavchavadze Avenue”, he noted.
The Speaker concluded by reiterating his accusation that current NGO-led narratives aim to sow hostility, claiming that the EU Embassy would once again avoid holding its funded partners accountable.