Georgian government seizes funds of seven non-governmental organizations

The past few months have seen a series of investigations and actions against several civil society organizations in Georgia, raising concerns about the country's commitment to freedom of speech and democracy.

The Prosecutor General's Office initiated an investigation in February, targeting ongoing protests through investigations into alleged sabotage. This investigation has affected a wide range of government critics, including seven civil society organizations whose accounts were frozen by the Tbilisi City Court.

The organizations targeted include ISFED, Civil Society Foundation, IDFI, SJC, Sapari, GDI, and Democracy Defenders. Four of these NGOs, including Sapari, had already been singled out under the ruling party's April Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The Anti-Corruption Bureau launched inspections of these groups, along with three others, in mid-August, citing possible violations of FARA.

The investigations against these organizations were initiated by the government of oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili and his ruling party Georgian Dream (GD). This government has been accused of freezing EU funds intended for independent NGOs as part of a targeted crackdown on Georgian civil society.

The Prosecutor General's Office claims that violent groups injured dozens of law enforcement officers, set fire to the parliament building, and police equipment during the protests. However, the organizations under investigation have dismissed the accusations as 'entirely baseless and defamatory'.

Protests erupted in November after the Georgian Dream government suspended its bid for EU membership. Participants were equipped with various items including gas masks, helmets, face-covering masks, respirators, protective goggles, and batons. These items were allegedly supplied in a coordinated manner using funds from the targeted organizations.

Heavy clashes and brutal police violence against protesters and journalists were seen during the first phase of anti-government demonstrations. The Georgian government's policy toward civil society organizations has become particularly hostile over the past two years, with the adoption of restrictive laws against civil society organizations accelerating over the past eight months.

Amidst these challenges, independent voices in journalism are under threat. A newsroom is being built by a community of readers, aiming to provide an alternative platform for free and independent journalism.

Sapari, a women's rights group, has called on women and children who are victims of violence to continue reaching out to them. They have strongly denied the accusations against them and urged for transparency and fairness in the ongoing investigations.

The Caucasus region is experiencing changes, and the future of democracy in Georgia remains uncertain. As the investigations continue, it is crucial for the international community to stand in solidarity with the civil society organizations in Georgia and support their efforts to uphold freedom of speech and democracy.