Ruling party MP Machavariani accuses opposition parties and NGOs of acting under foreign control

Georgian Dream MP Levan Machavariani has accused the majority of Georgia’s opposition parties of operating under the control of foreign powers, claiming that the opposition has repeatedly been reorganised into different political configurations to influence voters.

In a social media post on Monday, Machavariani referred to the “collective National Movement” and alleged that opposition parties and “wealthy non-governmental organisations” form part of a single network directed by external actors. 

Machavariani specifically discussed Lelo, Gakharia for Georgia and Ahali, arguing that they were “artificially created” or repositioned to attract different segments of the electorate while maintaining links with the broader opposition.

The MP claimed the strategy was particularly evident ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections, when, he claimed, Lelo and Gakharia for Georgia were deliberately distanced from the United National Movement in order to appeal to voters he described as neutral or undecided.

He also alleged that Gakharia for Georgia was brought back into active politics ahead of the 2021 local elections as part of an effort to prevent Georgian Dream from securing the 43% threshold that had been linked to the EU-mediated political agreement following the 2020 parliamentary elections.

Machavariani further claimed that the subsequent cooperation between Gakharia’s party and the UNM in several municipalities exposed the party’s links with the wider opposition.

Turning to the 2025 local elections, Machavariani alleged that opposition parties were assigned different political roles, with some taking a more radical position while Lelo and Gakharia for Georgia were presented as comparatively moderate forces.

He also claimed that the failure of the “October 4 revolution” was followed by a decision for Gakharia’s party to use its parliamentary mandates, while Lelo and other opposition parties continued a boycott. These claims concern political interpretations of events and were not independently substantiated in his post.

Machavariani also criticised opposition parties and NGOs over their opposition to Georgia’s Transparency Law and legislation concerning what the Georgian authorities describe as “LGBT propaganda”. He argued that these issues demonstrated the existence of a coordinated network of opposition parties and NGOs.

Machavariani concluded that foreign actors would attempt further changes to the opposition landscape ahead of the 2028 elections. He also referred to forthcoming court proceedings concerning the possible banning of opposition parties.