Statement von Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch und anderen NGOs, 10.9.2025 (engl. Original)
Nine international human rights organisations express profound concerns regarding the Georgian government’s all-out assault on human rights and civil society organisations in the country and call on the authorities to immediately and unconditionally end all persecution of civil society and media groups for their peaceful and legitimate work. The European Union, its member states and the broader international community should take urgent and coordinated measures to respond to and end this crackdown.
On 27 August 2025, the Georgian authorities froze the bank accounts of seven human rights and civil society organisations as part of a so-called “sabotage” investigation, claiming the groups had equipped protesters who committed “violent acts” against police in 2024. The Tbilisi City Court ordered the freezing of the bank accounts of the following organisations: International Society of Fair Elections and Democracy, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, Georgian Democracy Initiative, Union Sapari, Social Justice Center, Civil Society Foundation and Democracy Defenders.
The prosecutor’s office has been carrying out investigations under several criminal code articles, including “sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravated circumstances, assisting a foreign organisation or an organisation under foreign influence in hostile activities, and financing actions against Georgia’s constitutional order and national security.” These articles carry penalties ranging from seven years to life in prison.
Earlier, in March 2025, the Georgian authorities froze the bank accounts of human rights organisations “Human Rights House Tbilisi” and “Shame Movement” along with three other civil society groups - “Nanuka’s Fund”, “Prosperity Georgia”, and “Fund for Each Other 24/7” over similar charges.
The authorities blatantly misrepresent the organisations’ legitimate human rights work and falsely claim that civil society groups used their funds to endorse and sponsor protests in Georgia’s capital, Tbilisi. The protests erupted in response to the widespread election manipulations in October 2024, and following the government’s decision to suspend Georgia’s EU accession negotiations a month later.
Die vollständige Erklärung finden Sie hier.