Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia from the ruling party Georgian Dream, has expressed his approval of US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend all foreign aid programs for 90 days pending review. Kobakhidze made these remarks during a briefing at the Government Administration in response to a question from a pro-government TV channel, Imedi.
“We welcome this decision… Of course, the Trump administration’s move to review these programs is very significant,” Kobakhidze said.
The Prime Minister also used the opportunity to defend the controversial Foreign Influence Transparency Law, which had sparked massive protests in Tbilisi earlier this year. The legislation faced strong opposition from demonstrators and international partners, including the United States, who urged its withdrawal due to concerns it would hinder Georgia’s EU integration efforts.
“Throughout this period, especially since we initiated the Transparency Law, we have been pointing out that not only were certain funds being misused in our country, but often they were directly financing revolutionary processes—something that is plain to see,” Kobakhidze stated.
He added that US funds were “frequently used to finance improper activities,” which, according to him, undermined the sovereignty of certain countries. Kobakhidze also criticized those who equated US funding with Russia’s influence, a point for which the Georgian government has been repeatedly criticized.
