**British Embassy Funding in Georgia Raises Concerns**
The Speaker of the Georgian Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, has called on the British Embassy to reveal which individuals and organizations they have funded in connection with the 2024 parliamentary elections. This demand comes after the embassy announced that it had to cancel planned grant proposals aimed at supporting transparency and competitiveness in municipal elections.
According to the British Embassy, their plans were scrapped due to the Georgian government’s failure to finalize a resolution on grant approvals. However, Papuashvili believes that this is not the first time the embassy has attempted to fund propaganda and extremism. In his social media post, he wrote: “This reinforces the suspicion that this was not the first attempt to fund propaganda and extremism.”
The Speaker’s statement suggests that there may be concerns about the British Embassy’s intentions and transparency in funding activities related to Georgian elections. Papuashvili has appealed to anyone who may have information regarding the embassy’s funding to come forward.
**Background on British Embassy Funding**
It is worth noting that the British Embassy in Georgia had planned to fund initiatives aimed at supporting transparency and competitiveness in municipal elections. However, their plans were cancelled due to a lack of clear mechanisms for grant approvals. This development has raised questions about the effectiveness of the Georgian government’s efforts to ensure transparency and accountability in election-related activities.
**Commentary**
The demand by the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament for the British Embassy to reveal their funding intentions raises important questions about transparency and accountability in international relations. As a diplomatic mission, the British Embassy has a responsibility to be transparent about its activities and funding initiatives, especially when it comes to sensitive issues like election-related propaganda.
In this context, Papuashvili’s call for greater transparency is timely and necessary. It highlights the need for clear mechanisms and regulations governing international grant approvals, as well as the importance of accountability in ensuring that foreign funding does not compromise the integrity of local elections.
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