Seven Georgian ‘civil society’ and non-governmental organisations face having their bank accounts frozen. The action, brought by the Prosecutor General’s Office and upheld by Tbilisi City Court, came after claims that the NGOs supported violence amid anti-government demonstrations.
Those targeted include:
- the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED);
- the Civil Society Foundation;
- the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI);
- the Social Justice Centre (SJC)
- Sapari, a feminist NGO;
- local groups Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI) and Democracy Defenders.
According to the Prosecutor General’s Office, November’s protests against the government suspending its bid for European Union membership were
gradually transformed into confrontations with police forces, with a deliberate character [caused by] calls by opposition party leaders and certain NGO heads for mass disobedience and nationwide resistance.
Linked to its allegations of NGOs fomenting violence, the Georgian Dream government also claims that the funds in the bank accounts were used to prepare for rioting and destruction, by purchasing gas masks, batons and other equipment.
The various organisations—four of which (ISFED, SJC, Sapari, and the Civil Society Foundation) already face pressure under Georgia’s Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA)—have denied any involvement in preparing for violence.
Although Brussels criticised FARA—despite many member states having similar legislation themselves—Georgia was keen to work towards EU membership, despite pressure to adopt a globalist woke agenda. This has since changed, with the government suspending its EU accession process and Brussels overturning earlier light-touch visa arrangements.
