Georgian Dream MP Levan Machavariani has named specific organizations that he claims will be denied access to grants under newly proposed legislative changes aimed at tightening foreign funding regulations. Referring to them as “undesirable organizations,” the MP accused these groups of engaging in activities that undermine national stability.
Speaking in Parliament, Machavariani stated that if a donor organization requests government approval for a grant, and if the government is convinced that the project serves the public good, the funding will be approved. However, if the government suspects the funds could support individuals such as Nino Lomjaria, Eka Gigauri, or Baia Pataraia for activities he described as “revolutionary,” the grant will be blocked.
He also noted that if a donor proceeds with issuing a grant without approval, the receiving organization will be fined double the amount of the funding. Machavariani again targeted well-known civil society leaders, accusing them of “subversive activities” and insisting that such organizations should be prevented from financing what he called “revolutionary actors” in Georgia.
“When a specific donor organization approaches the government regarding the issuance of a grant, if it convinces the government that this will benefit our country and be good for our population, then of course the government will approve it. However, if it fails to convince the government and we see signs that the money is intended for [Nino] Lomjaria, [Eka] Gigauri, Ms. [Baia] Pataraia, and so on, to organize yet another revolutionary scenario, then naturally, such a grant will not be approved,” he stated.
Nino Lomjaria, former Public Defender and founder of Georgia’s European Orbit, currently leads the NGO coalition My Voice. Eka Gigauri is the long-time Executive Director of Transparency International – Georgia, and Baia Pataraia heads the women’s rights organization Sapari.
