Georgian Parliament Speaker: Federica Mogherini’s detention indicates corruption in grant allocation

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Wednesday commented on the detention of Federica Mogherini, the former EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, asserting that it confirmed suspicions of corruption in the allocation of grants linked to European bodies.

In his remarks, Papuashvili noted that this fact was also evidence that corrupt European bureaucrats were resisting the transparency law.

“These facts confirm the suspicions that existed within Georgian society - that during grant allocation we are dealing with corruption. Let me remind you that the case against Ms. Mogherini concerns corruption in the process of grant allocation. These are exactly the suspicions that many NGOs in Georgia have been discussing for some time - that grant allocation in Georgia involves corruption, and that European bodies and donors are implicated in this corruption”, he said.

“According to available information, it has repeatedly become publicly known that when a grant is awarded, questions arise about how the competition was conducted and on what grounds and procedures the grant was allocated. Often, there was no satisfactory answer, or it became clear that grants were awarded directly through favouritism and other such practices”, he continued.

The Speaker further added that the process of distributing EU-related grants frequently lacked transparency, with funds awarded based on political preference, patronage, or favouritism.

“Thus, this once again confirms and fuels the suspicion that the problem with the transparency law is not only that it should not hinder funding of projects harmful to Georgia, but also that there is a problem with transparency law because it exposes corruption. Once it becomes known how funds are distributed, who receives them, and where favouritism, patronage, and deals occur. Grants are awarded not based on transparent rules and procedures, but directly according to political preference or economic favoritism”, Papuashvili noted.

He emphasised that the detention illustrated systemic issues within European institutions themselves.

“Today, from Brussels - and this is not the first time - it appears that corruption has become a harmful practice that is normalised in Brussels. It is a dire situation when Brussels, at this level, the predecessor of Kaja Kallas’ position, is flourishing with corruption. And yet they dare to talk about other countries”, he said.

“Once again, this fact is evidence that there was likely corruption during grant allocation. It is evidence that corrupt European bureaucrats are resisting the transparency law”, Papuashvili concluded.

The raids in Brussels and Bruges were carried out by the European Public Prosecutor’s Office at the College of Europe in Bruges and the European External Action Service in Brussels.