We will do what the people elected us to do – ensure the strength of our democracy against improper external interference! In the near future, Parliament will establish the necessary legislative framework to fulfill this task, - wrote Parliament Speaker Shalva Papuashvili on his Facebook page.

Papuashvili attached a photo to his post showing the removal of a sign from the USAID building in Washington, D.C. The photo includes the caption: “Farewell to Arms.”

Papuashvili stated that after recent revelations, every donor country is now suspected of misusing foreign aid.

“Diplomacy must reclaim the place that has so far been taken over by the distorted practice of foreign aid.

For many years, foreign aid has turned from assistance into exploitation, from philanthropy into an instrument, from a tool of labor into a tool of war.

Unlike diplomacy, which implies compromise and the pursuit of common interests, ‘foreign aid’ meant the implantation of foreign interests in political parties and ‘civil society.’ These newly acquired ‘interests’ were then framed as the interests of the people. Subsequently, defending these implanted ‘interests’ in the name of the people became a powerful tool of influence for foreign countries.

Moreover, in this kind of structure, foreign ambassadors, instead of building bridges with host countries and societies, took on the role of instructors governing the country. This led to a situation where the ambassadors’ task was not to build trust with the host government but to impose their own authority on the local leadership. We remember this very well from Soviet times when the second secretary of the Central Committee, who was the second-ranking official in the republic, was always sent from Moscow.

Recently, Secretary of State Rubio stated that foreign policy should aim at finding common interests rather than introducing conflict in other countries. This correct position had long been lost in the improper practice of ‘foreign aid.’

The Georgian government has not spared criticism in exposing the distorted nature of foreign aid. Now, the United States has taken the lead in changing this flawed approach. The scale of corruption and harmful activities in the field of foreign aid is truly staggering.

After recent revelations, every donor country is now under suspicion of misusing foreign aid. There is no alternative to transparency in foreign funding. The relevant governments must investigate all suspicious and potentially illegal cases and disclose their findings.

As for Georgia, we will do what the people elected us to do – ensure the strength of our democracy against improper external interference. In the near future, Parliament will establish the necessary legislative framework to fulfill this task," - wrote Shalva Papuashvili.