Georgian Parliament Speaker raises questions over EU-linked NGOs registered at abandoned Estonian site

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Thursday claimed the European Union was using indirect schemes to exert political influence in Georgia by channeling funds into politics without the consent of the Georgian people.

In his interview with Imedi TV, Papuashvili presented what he described as photo evidence and registration documents showing that several Georgian non-governmental and media organisations were registered at the same address in Estonia, with the address corresponding to a dilapidated, partially ruined building located next to a railway line, which he said raises questions about the credibility of the organisations allegedly registered there.

“This is the Estonian office of Transparency International. It is also the Estonian office of Nino Lomjaria’s European Orbit. The same address is used by so-called media outlets - Publika, which in reality serves as a propaganda instrument - and several other similar organisations. This is what Estonia is doing today against Georgia, when fictitious organisations are established there and presented as non-governmental organizations. A ruined building next to a railway is being presented to us as an ‘Estonian organisation’”, he said.

The Speaker highlighted that all of this was clearly documented.

“There are registration records showing Transparency International Georgia’s Estonian address, where Eka Gigauri and Aleksandre Baramidze are registered; the European Orbit of Georgia - Nino Lomjaria and Mikheil Benidze. What is notable is that Estonian personal identification numbers are listed instead of Georgian ones. I do not know what legal status they have obtained there. Publika has become an Estonian media. On.ge has become an Estonian media. Tabula has become an Estonian media”, he noted.

“Another notable figure appears here as well - presented as a medical worker and one of the main protagonists of the BBC’s defamatory film against Georgia. Medical worker Konstantine Chakhunashvili turned out to be a content creator for an Estonian NGO. These are the people on whom accusations were based, alleging that Georgia used weapons from the First World War”, Papuashvili continued.

He emphasised that these actions represented EU schemes aimed at gaining political influence over Georgia.

“They are looking for ways to channel money into politics without the consent of the Georgian people”, the Speaker concluded.