Georgian Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili has accused the UK government of attempting to interfere in Georgia’s domestic affairs through a newly launched grant initiative linked to the country’s upcoming elections. Addressing journalists on April 6, Papuashvili claimed that the program, introduced by the British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), resembles past U.S. aid efforts, which he alleges were intended to destabilize foreign governments and influence political outcomes.

The FCDO initiative, unveiled on April 4, invites Georgian civil society organizations to apply for grants of up to £100,000. The funding is designed to support voter education, increase participation among underrepresented communities, and strengthen election monitoring ahead of Georgia’s local elections in October 2025. According to a statement from the British Embassy in Tbilisi, the grants aim to promote elections that meet “the highest possible standards,” ensuring all citizens can freely express their views.

Papuashvili, however, framed the initiative as part of a broader effort to offset a reduction in U.S. financial support. He argued that while the U.S. has scaled back such foreign assistance, European nations are now stepping in to advance similar political objectives. “The U.S. has recognized the damaging impact of this kind of interference and withdrawn,” he said. “But when a vacuum appears, others are quick to fill it. What was once funded by American money is now being pursued through British or other European channels.”

Papuashvili also questioned the transparency of the grant process, alleging that the competition is rigged to favor specific NGOs, such as the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), a group well-known for its election monitoring work in Georgia.

Meanwhile, Teona Akubardia, an opposition figure from the Gakharia for Georgia party, suggested that the government’s criticism of the UK initiative reflects deeper political anxieties. “This isn’t really about the grant,” she said in an interview with Palitra News. “The ruling party is worried about British sanctions.” Akubardia pointed out that the UK was the first to impose sanctions on Georgian officials, a move later echoed by the U.S. “They’re more afraid of the British reaction than the American one,” she added. Her remarks alluded to the UK’s recent sanctions against two senior Georgian judges, Mikheil Chinchaladze and Levan Murusidze, who were accused of widespread corruption and manipulating the judiciary to benefit the ruling Georgian Dream party.