The Council of Europe has provided InterpressNews with clarification regarding the seminar held in Bakhmaro as a joint activity with the Tbilisi School of Political Studies and its funding.

In response to a question sent by InterPressNews, the Council of Europe’s headquarters exclusively told the outlet that “within the framework of the seminar, which is implemented and supported directly by the Council of Europe, no grant transfer was made to the recipient in Georgia.”

The Council of Europe’s Media Relations Service also stated that it had not paid any honorarium to either Armaz Akhvlediani or any other representative of the Tbilisi School of Political Studies in connection with the seminar. The seminar itself was a joint activity of the Council of Europe’s VC project, “Supporting Civil Dialogue in Georgia,” and the Tbilisi School of Political Studies (TSPS).

"The seminar 'Choice in Favor of Democratic Culture', that took place in Bakhmaro on 18-19 September 2026, is a joint activity of the Council of Europe VC Project 'Support to Civil Dialogue in Georgia' and the Tbilisi School of Political Studies (TSPS).

The project is implemented under the Council of Europe Action Plan for Georgia 2024-2027 which had been prepared in close consultation with the Georgian authorities and inter alia aims to enhance dialogue and democratic participation as underpinnings of a culture of democracy. The seminar is implemented and supported directly by the Council of Europe as a project activity, with the School acting as partner and host.

The activity does not involve the transfer of a grant to a Georgian recipient.

The seminar was by invitation only and was not open to the media. Invitations for the event have been widely shared with the alumni of the TSPS which represents a wide spectrum of opinions across party lines to facilitate an open and constructive debate with a diverse range of views.

No honoraria were paid by the Council of Europe to Armaz Akhvlediani nor to other representatives of the Tbilisi School of Political Studies in connection with the seminar," - The Council of Europe’s statement reads.