Georgian Parliament Speaker accuses European institutions of financing extremism amid US funding cut

Since the cessation of US funding, hatred, violence, and extremism in Georgia are reportedly being financed from European sources, including the European Union budget, Shalva Papuashvili, Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, claimed on Tuesday. 

Papuashvili criticized certain European institutions and political groups for what he described as a “crisis of values” and a double standard in their approach to violence and extremism.

“Extremism and violence have the same face everywhere, whether in Tbilisi, Berlin, Paris, or Los Angeles,” Papuashvili said. “Some in Europe condemn violence when it happens against their police but justify or overlook similar acts when they occur in Georgia. This is a problem.”

He pointed out the perceived hypocrisy where violent acts such as throwing Molotov cocktails at police were condemned in European cities, yet similar violence funded by EU budgets was allegedly tolerated in Georgia, including attacks on Georgian parliamentary institutions.

“This situation is shameful and unacceptable,” Papuashvili emphasized. “It is a crisis when some European institutions identify themselves with extremism and indirectly finance it. I call on all ambassadors to take responsibility and cease justifying, encouraging, and financing extremist activities.”