Irakli Kadagishvili, an MP from the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Monday criticized the EU High Representative Josep Borrell’s proposal to redirect over €100 million in EU assistance from the Georgian government to civil society organizations.
Kadagishvili argued that this shift would not disrupt the functioning of the state, insisting that it would not affect vital services like pensions or salaries for police and military personnel.
He further questioned the transparency of how the funds would be handled by NGOs and defended the Georgian government’s “transparent management” of its budget.
“It is a pity that during 34 years, the real investment of the European Union in Georgia is not more than 100 million,” Kadagishvili said. “Does Mr. Borrell think that NGOs will spend this money as transparently as the government, or will it turn into ‘black money’?”
Kadagishvili also defended Georgia’s electoral integrity, asserting that October 26 elections were conducted “fairly and transparently” and that any alleged irregularities would be addressed through ongoing investigations.
He also criticized EU representatives for their perceived involvement in favor of the opposition during the pre-election campaign, calling such actions a violation of international norms and a misstep that had “strained” political relations.
