Georgia’s ruling party official responds to Brussels corruption scandal, citing it as “lesson” for critics of Georgian transparency law

Levan Machavariani, the First Deputy Chair of the ruling Georgian Dream party faction in the legislative body, on Thursday responded to the corruption scandal unfolding in Brussels, noting that the case serves as a clear example for those who still believe that a Georgian law could be considered “a Russian law”.

Machavariani’s remarks came after the raids were carried out at the College of Europe in Bruges, and at the European External Action Service (EEAS) in Brussels.

The European Public Prosecutor's Office (EPPO) conducted the search related to a suspected fraud scheme tied to EU-funded training programmes for junior diplomats. The allegations reportedly involve procurement fraud, corruption, conflict of interest and breach of professional confidentiality.

“This is the peak of cynicism - we were being lectured that transparency supposedly contradicts European values. But now it has become clear that European bureaucrats are actually following the example of the Georgian Dream [party], acknowledging that transparency is indeed a European value and crucial for the security of any country or institutional space”, the ruling party official said.

He added that the case should serve as an important example for “that part of society which still believes that a Georgian law could somehow be a Russian law”.