The bank accounts of seven local NGOs have been frozen in Georgia, Radio Liberty’s Ekho Kavkaza project reported on 27 August, citing the prosecutor’s office. The Tbilisi City Court granted the corresponding request of the prosecutor’s office.
Within the framework of the investigation of the case “on promotion of sabotage and hostile activities” these organisations are accused of financing the actions that took place at the end of 2024.
Among the organisations against which the restrictions are invoked are:
- “Civil Society Foundation”.
- “International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy” (ISFED)
- “Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information” (IDFI)
- “Defenders of Democracy”
- “Georgian Democratic Initiative” (GDI)
- “Sapari”
- Centre for Social Justice (formerly EMC)
The prosecutor’s office claims that they coordinated the financing of participants in last year’s protests – “for violent actions against law enforcement officers”.
The office also writes that the funds of the above-mentioned organisations were allegedly used to purchase equipment such as gas masks, protective goggles, masks, respirators, pepper spray and other means, which the protesters actively used during clashes with the police.
The organisations have not yet responded to the prosecutor’s statement, although they generally link the harassment by Georgian Dream to a desire to stifle criticism of them.
For more than a year, Georgian authorities have been passing laws that hamper the work of the civil sector and independent media and limit freedom of speech. The head of the Georgian Dream, who also serves as prime minister, said on 28 November 2024 that the authorities would no longer raise the issue of starting negotiations on European integration. This triggered the start of large-scale rallies, which were repeatedly dispersed by security forces, using excessive force. None of them have been punished for violence against journalists and demonstrators.