**Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Bureau Tackles Grant Issues, Receives European Support**
The head of Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, Razhden Kuprashvili, has revealed that the agency is cooperating with a major European institution to investigate corruption related to grant spending. This move comes as several countries are grappling with issues surrounding grants and their misuse.
According to Kuprashvili, the British Embassy in Georgia can indeed spend funds for legitimate purposes without any issues. However, he emphasized that it’s not the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s discretion to decide how grants are spent. “Issuing grants is the prerogative of the Georgian government,” he explained. The head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau also clarified that educational, humanitarian, and economic directions are exempt from the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) obligation.
When asked about the British Embassy’s request to issue grants, Kuprashvili stated that it was not a matter of refusal but rather a clarification of legislative regulations. “We did not refuse the British Embassy to provide grants,” he said. The head of the Anti-Corruption Bureau noted that after meeting with the British Ambassador and discussing legislative regulations, it became clear that the government’s permission is required for grant spending.
Kuprashvili also touched on the issue of grant misuse, stating that there have been instances where funds were used to finance political activities. “There have been many cases when goals were written on a piece of paper regarding grants, where the funds were to be spent, however, these funds were used to finance various political activities,” he said.
The cooperation with European institutions and the focus on grant issues indicate that Georgia’s Anti-Corruption Bureau is taking steps to address corruption related to grant spending. This effort may serve as a model for other countries dealing with similar problems.
Read More @ www.interpressnews.ge
