Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday said it was expecting a “transparent explanation” from USAID Georgia over the allegations by the country’s State Security Service that it had funded a training  for domestic NGOs and individuals for a “planned unrest” in Tbilisi in November-December of the year. 

He also noted the agency’’s claims were of a preventive nature, and “everyone will be punished with maximum severity" if they decided to spark destabilisation in the country. 

Garibashvili also claimed the youth had been “used and then abandoned” during protests earlier this year against the foreign transparency bill - labeled as a “Russian law” by domestic opposition and the international community, which the ruling party had to revoke following the rallies.

“The goal of the anti-state forces is violence, disorder, destabilization, they don't like us to maintain peace and stability in the country, their desire is to overthrow the Government by violent means and open a second front in the country. That was the original goal, it remains unfortunately still their goal”, he said. 

In his comments at the Government session, the PM also said the conscription service would be transferred to the Ministry of Defense from January 1, 2024, “and I also want to say that from 2025, all conscripts will undergo service at the Ministry of Defence”. 

He also said winemakers affected by adverse weather would receive about 1,100 dollars for a hectare to restore their vineyards, adding his office would announce “additional support” for domestic wheat producers.