Georgian Parliament Speaker: shameful that xenophobia is funded in Georgia from Europe through NGOs

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Monday criticised Europe for funding xenophobic campaigns in the country.

In response to a question about the funding of publications against Eagles Hills from European funds, Papuashvili noted that it was shameful that xenophobia was being funded in Georgia from Europe through non-governmental organisations.

He further called on foreign donors to reveal themselves so that the Georgian people knew who the xenophobic donors were in the country.

“It is shameful that after all these decades, in a Europe that has had a very difficult history of xenophobia, we are still seeing that the money of the European Union and various European capitals is being used to finance a xenophobic campaign. Therefore, I appeal to the donors who finance this organization to reveal themselves. To name who they are, who finance this organization, so that the Georgian people know who the xenophobic donors are in Georgia. We, of course, will also find and name the xenophobic donors who, in the 21st century, do not hesitate to use xenophobia as a weapon to carry out economic sabotage against Georgia. This is a shame and a black day for European donors”, the Speaker said.

“It is time to expose another big scam and lie that donors in Georgia are spreading, that there is a certain group of online media. This is not an online media, these are actually ordinary NGOs with websites. There is no journalism in their activities and this is not any media activity. These are ordinary NGOs with websites. If you look at their informational topics, they are completely concentrated, including on advertising, announcing, and describing the results of violent actions. They are an absolute propaganda mouthpiece for violent groups. And also a propaganda mouthpiece for a xenophobic campaign and a mouthpiece for economic sabotage against Georgia. So, this is not any media, in its essence. These are NGOs with websites. There are no journalistic standards and ethics in them”, he concluded.