Georgian Parliament official says McCain Institute “hybrid tool of deep state”

Rati Ionatamishvili, the Chair of the Georgian Parliament’s Human Rights and Civil Integration Committee, on Thursday claimed the McCain Institute was a hybrid tool of the deep state, noting that it had spent quite large sums of money on developing violent processes and instigating unrest in the country.

Ionatamishvili’s comment followed the statement of the McCain Institute that it had played a pivotal role in the release of Nika Gvaramia, the leader of the opposition Coalition for Change, adding $500,000 grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York would be used to fight for the interests of individuals imprisoned in several countries, including Mzia Amaglobeli, a journalist who attacked a police officer.

“We also know very well how the McCain Institute is driven by hostility toward the President of the United States. It is also a fact that Salome Zourabichvili is a contractor of the McCain Institute, and whatever she states only serves the Institute’s legitimacy. Any activity carried out by this organization against Georgia is futile and will never bear results. Our society must not forget that these hybrid tools are used against our country and citizens’ dignity - through trolls, slander, and disinformation. The Institute spends its money solely on strengthening its own agents. Everything else it claims is nothing but lies”, the Parliament official said.

He also referred to former media executive Nika Gvaramia, reminding the public that he had served a prison sentence for fraud.

“This man was convicted of embezzlement, stealing money from a company he led. Later, another company he worked for also accused him of similar misconduct. Clearly, we are dealing with recidivism and incorrigible behavior. No fabrication can change that reality. Regardless of the McCain Institute’s attempts to create a false narrative, society knows very well - a fraud is a fraud, and a criminal is a criminal”, he concluded.