Elections: Opposition Alleges Alliance of Patriots Will Be Funded by the Kremlin

Yesterday, the opposition party 'European Georgia' applied to the Prosecutor's Office with a request to launch an investigation against the 'Alliance of Patriots of Georgia' party. Moreover, opposition parties in Georgia demand the 'Alliance of Patriots' be prohibited from running in the October parliamentary elections. 

The reason for this was the information spread by the Russian edition 'Dossier', based on which the 'Alliance of Patriots' was receiving pre-election advice and money from the Kremlin.

The publication reads that the party demanded $8 million from Moscow to finance their run in the 2020 elections. The article does not clarify specifically who is paying or whether this money has already been paid.

At the same time, 'Dossier' reports that the Alliance of Patriots of Georgia has hired political strategist Sergey Mikheev and the Moscow company POLITSECRETS to promote the party.

Irma Inashvili, leader of the Alliance and vice-speaker of parliament, says the party is actually using the services of a Russian consulting firm and categorically denies receiving financial support from Russia.

She denies the allegations and claims that that former President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili and one of the leaders of European Georgia Giga Bokeria ordered this investigation to be carried out by 'Dossier.'

'Dossier' also writes that the Russian consulting company advised the Alliance to: stir up controversy among voters, intensify anti-Western propaganda, and focus on the undecided electorate.

Whether the Kremlin was actually funding the Patriots Alliance and whether the party was receiving dangerous advice for Georgia from Russian consultants is an issue that may now be investigated by Georgian investigative bodies.

By Ana Dumbadze 

Image: David Tarkhan-Mouravi and Irma Inashvili, the leaders of 'Alliance of Patriots'