Georgian Parliament Speaker says US move to shut down funders of “harmful projects” validates Georgia’s concerns

Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on Saturday said the new US administration’s decision to close organisations funding harmful projects - including those undermining Georgian democracy - vindicated the Government’s warnings about foreign influence made three years ago.

Speaking on the Imedi TV show Open Air - Debates, Papuashvili stressed the importance of public debate, saying society must have the opportunity to hear differing views on such critical issues.

“It is important that the public has the opportunity, in a debate format, to listen to the opinions of different sides and opponents. Today we discussed foreign funding and transparency - an issue on which the whole world agrees. What we were talking about three years ago, and what some criticised at the time, was confirmed by the new leadership of the United States when it closed organisations that were funding harmful projects in Georgia and undermining Georgian democracy”, he said.

The Speaker argued that these developments strengthen the case for Georgia’s transparency legislation, particularly the principle that political or politically influential money should not circulate in the country without the Georgian people’s knowledge and consent.

“From today’s standpoint, we certainly have even stronger arguments regarding the transparency of foreign influence and the principle that political money should not be spent in Georgia. Any money that is close to politics and influences it should be spent only with the consent of the Georgian people”, Papuashvili concluded.