Volski Says Grant Amendments Target 'Black Money,' Denies Repression
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, February 3, 2026
First Vice Speaker of Georgian Dream Parliament Gia Volski has rejected criticism of proposed amendments to Georgia's Law on Grants, insisting the changes are aimed only at stopping what he called "black money," not restricting legitimate civic activity.
"There is no repression. All grants related to the country's development interests are allowed," Volski said while commenting on the draft legislation. "The only prohibition applies to so-called grants that constitute 'black money.'"
Volski argued that recent experience shows some foreign-funded programs have been used to promote extremism. He said grants are not restricted as long as they are used for their stated purpose.
"If you say a program is about culture, you should not use that money to train young people on how to confront the police or prepare Molotov cocktails," he said. "Any grant is allowed, any program can be implemented. The problem is misuse."
He added that transparency should not be an issue for legitimate organizations. "If that is not the case, why is transparency a problem? Let it be clear how much money it is, who sent it, and what it is being spent on. There are no other requirements," Volski said.
Addressing public concerns, Volski stressed that the amendments would not apply to private money transfers, such as funds sent by family members from abroad, honorariums, or payments for specific services. "These are, of course, not subject to any control. They are permissible and even welcome," he said.
Volski also accused critics of deliberately misrepresenting the law. "There is a lot of speculation around this issue, and there will be more," he said, adding that the goal is to prevent the inflow of undeclared political funding. He referenced EU Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos, claiming she had spoken about finding ways to bring "black money" into Georgia, and said the law is meant to stop that.
Under the proposed amendments, the definition of a grant would be significantly expanded to include cash or in-kind transfers that authorities believe are intended to influence Georgian state institutions, public opinion, or the country's domestic or foreign policy. Receiving such funding would require prior government approval.
