Beka Chedia
On February 27, the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR) reported that EU leadership intends to maintain its influence, or what the SVR deems “subversive actions,” in Georgia at any cost. The SVR claimed that the European Union allocated 50,000 euros ($54,586) for this purpose and plans to pay anti-government protesters 120 euros ($130) per day. According to Russian intelligence, if the Georgian government attempts to block these funding channels, the European Union will deliver cash to Georgia with the help of EU-country embassies in Armenia (RIA Novosti, February 27). The EU ambassador to Georgia Paweł Herczyński called these accusations “an outrageous lie that has nothing to do with reality” (Netgazeti.ge, February 28). The EU Spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Anouar El Anouni, called this a Russian disinformation campaign aimed at manipulation and sowing distrust (Interpressnews.ge, February 28).
This is just one of the SVR’s claims that indicate Russia’s involvement in Georgia’s internal politics, markedly the preservation of the ruling Georgian Dream party. The SVR has accused the United States of attempting to organize a revolution in Georgia on multiple occasions, although this time, both Russia and the Georgian government have chosen the European Union as their main target (TASS, July 9, 2024). Georgia’s ruling elite, in tandem with Russian intelligence, has crossed the red lines of diplomatic etiquette toward the European Union, accusing Herczyński of collusion with a mythical deep state. Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said Herczyński is “complicit in violence” (Civil Georgia, February 25). Additionally, Georgia’s ruling elite is irritated by Herczyński holding meetings with representatives of the cultural sphere and with the country’s youth who have been involved in the more than three-month-long anti-government protests (see EDM, December 6, 2024; Facebook.com/EUinGeorgia, February 13).
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