“The only time I agree with Saakashvili’s assessment of NGOs is when he called them ‘grant-eaters.’ I also agree with NGOs that Saakashvili is not a political prisoner - both are right,” Levan Machavariani, a Georgian Dream MP, told journalists.

According to him, statements by NGOs that Georgia’s third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, is being politically persecuted are “the height of insolence,” and they are now considering “not spreading such insolence anymore.”

“This is the only case in which I agree with Saakashvili’s assessment of these NGOs. He called them ‘grant-eaters.’ I also agree with NGOs that Saakashvili is not a political prisoner. Both are right - the [NGO] is a ‘grant-eater,’ and he [Mikheil Saakashvili] is not a political prisoner.

“When these wealthy NGOs spread lies that Saakashvili is being politically persecuted, it is the height of insolence. Ninety-nine percent of the rest of what they spread is similar insolence. However, everyone knows that Saakashvili is not a political prisoner, including his supporters. Accordingly, they are probably thinking about no longer spreading such insolence and becoming more convincing. However, simply removing Saakashvili from their statements as a politically persecuted person will certainly not help them persuade society to believe the rest of their claims,” Machavariani said.

For reference, according to an updated report published by the NGO Transparency International Georgia, there are 91 political prisoners in Georgia. The organization said that all 91 people included on the list meet the criteria for political prisoners established by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe. The list concerns 91 convicted and accused individuals who are currently in detention.

Later, Georgia’s third president, Mikheil Saakashvili, said that it was “completely shameful” that “Georgian Transparency International” had not included him on the list of political prisoners. He also said that the NGO had no authority and that people considered it to be made up of “insincere grant-eaters.”

The United National Movement also issued a statement, saying that the “anti-Misha” campaign only damages the organization’s reputation.