**Georgia’s Parliament Speaker Speaks Out Against Extremism Funding**
In a recent social media post, the Speaker of Georgia’s Parliament, Shalva Papuashvili, has sounded an alarm about the funding of extremist groups in the country. According to him, calling the government “illegitimate” is not just a form of dissent, but a denial of democratic institutions. This, he believes, creates an ideological base for extremism.
**NGO Funding and International Obligations**
Papuashvili’s statement specifically targets Transparency International Georgia, a non-governmental organization (NGO) based in Estonia that receives the largest funding from the European Commission and the Swedish budget. He questions why the embassies of these countries do not react to incitement to extremism, despite being funded by their citizens’ money.
**International Consequences**
Papuashvili emphasizes that responsible donation is not a choice but an international legal obligation, as reinforced by the Paris Declaration on Aid Effectiveness. He warns that violating this principle undermines the rules-based international order. In essence, he believes that countries and organizations have a responsibility to ensure their funding does not promote extremism or undermine democratic institutions.
**A Call for Response**
In his post, Papuashvili explicitly states that his criticism is “legitimate” and not an “attack.” He calls on the relevant authorities to respond to these concerns. The statement serves as a reminder of the importance of responsible international cooperation and the need to prevent funding from being used to promote extremism.
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