Prosecutor’s Office Seizes Funds Supporting Protesters
Journalist and Nanuka’s Foundation founder, Nanuka Zhorzholiani, has announced that the Prosecutor’s Office has seized her foundation. Zhorzholiani stated that the exact details remain unclear but confirmed that the seizure was requested by the authorities.
Shortly afterwards, the Prosperity Georgia Foundation, founded by former Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri, released a statement on social media confirming that its bank accounts had also been seized.
The affected foundations provide financial and legal assistance to individuals who have been detained or fined during protests.
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, an investigation revealed that between November 28, 2024, and the present, certain protests held in front of the Parliament of Georgia and at various locations across the country had escalated into violence and exceeded legal limits. Authorities claim that financial contributions to these foundations were being used to “organize illegal and criminal activities.”
Based on a court ruling issued on March 17, 2025, the Prosecutor’s Office seized the bank accounts of several organizations, including:Nanuka’s Foundation, Prosperity Georgia Foundation, Fund for Each Other 24/7,Shame. Tbilisi Human Rights House.
All funds held in these accounts across Georgian banking institutions were frozen.
The Prosecutor’s Office stated that the seizures are part of an ongoing investigation into “sabotage,” which was launched following a formal appeal by Vato Shakarashvili, a former Georgian Dream member and pro-Russian politician.
Salome Zurabishvili Met with Opposition Leaders
Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zurabishvili, met with representatives of opposition parties on March 10. After the meeting, opposition leaders told the media that they discussed, among other issues, creating a “joint coordination front.”
According to Tina Bokuchava, the chairwoman of the United National Movement, it is important that this coordination front works towards a specific objective, is effective, and involves not only political parties but also public groups. She also mentioned that they discussed preparations for the planned March 31 “big rally”:
“We discussed the March 31 rally, which marks the anniversary of the referendum on Georgia’s independence—a crucial day in our country’s history. We will begin preparing for it together.”
Badri Japaridze, leader of the Lelo party, stated that a unified format should be developed around the fifth president, bringing together political groups and civil society members involved in the protests.
“Salome Zurabishvili believes there should be maximum coordination and unity between political and public groups. We think this common format should be structured around the president—it could be a peaceful resistance front or a coordination council. The key is ensuring that political leaders, civil society, and the people protesting in the streets are all connected,” Japaridze said.
Tamar Chergoleishvili, leader of the Federalists party, added that the meeting also covered preparations for new elections, including concerns about political prisoners and legislative reforms.
“Our main focus remains securing new elections, and I believe we will achieve that goal,” Chergoleishvili stated.
Maka Bochorishvili Met with U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan
Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili met with the U.S. Ambassador to Georgia, Robin Dunnigan.
“Today, Ambassador Dunnigan met with Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili to discuss the key priorities of President Trump and Secretary Rubio, as well as the steps Georgia can take to demonstrate its commitment to strengthening relations with the United States,” the U.S. Embassy stated.
The United States has imposed sanctions on multiple representatives across all three branches of the Georgian government, as well as on the country’s informal ruler, Bidzina Ivanishvili.
Additionally, on November 30, the U.S. suspended its strategic partnership with Georgia. According to former U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller, this decision was made in response to the anti-democratic actions of the Georgian Dream party, which violated key provisions of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership.
OSCE/ODIHR Issues Special Statement on Amendments to the Law on Assembly and Manifestation
The OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (OSCE/ODIHR) has stated the amendments introduced by Georgian Dream on December 13 and February 6 to the Code of Administrative Offences, the Law on Assembly and Manifestation, and the Criminal Code.
ODIHR emphasized that the state has a “positive obligation to respect, protect, and promote the exercise of these rights without discrimination.”
“Georgian Dream has introduced several new restrictions that limit the freedoms of peaceful assembly and expression. These amendments also impose severe criminal and administrative penalties, including lengthy prison sentences and significantly increased fines,” the statement reads.
The organization further noted that certain grounds for banning assemblies should be revised or, at the very least, more clearly and narrowly defined to ensure proportionality and avoid excessive limitations on the right to peaceful assembly.
Additionally, OSCE/ODIHR called for the abolition of administrative detention as a sanction for violations of the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations. The organization also stressed that fines imposed for administrative offences related to these violations should be significantly reduced to maintain proportionality between the penalty and the harm caused by such prosecutions.