Court Seizes Bank Accounts of 7 NGOs
According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the Tbilisi City Court has granted its motion to seize the bank accounts of several NGOs as part of an ongoing investigation into the mobilization of funds for “sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assistance to a foreign organization or an organization under foreign control in hostile activities, and actions directed against the constitutional order and foundations of national security of Georgia.”
“The investigation has established that participants in the demonstration who engaged in violent actions against law enforcement officers were equipped with special means in a coordinated manner, financed in part by non-governmental organisations. In particular, funds from the Civil Society Foundation, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, the Institute for the Development of Freedom of Information, Defenders of Democracy, the Georgian Democratic Initiative, Safari, and the Center for Social Justice were used to purchase equipment such as gas masks, protective goggles, face shields, masks, pepper spray, and other items actively used by protesters during violent confrontations with the police,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.
In reality, the public is aware that non-governmental organisations were involved in purchasing tear gas and other protective equipment because the authorities used brutal methods to suppress the demonstrations. It is also noteworthy that government-controlled media deliberately inflated the cost of this equipment to mislead the public.
More than 50 Organisations, Including the European-Georgian Institute, Express Solidarity with NGOs Whose Accounts Were Frozen by the Court
More than 50 organisations have issued a joint statement expressing solidarity with the seven non-governmental organisations whose bank accounts were frozen by the Georgian government.
According to the statement, this action demonstrates once again that the ruling Georgian Dream party has no interest in preserving Georgia’s visa-free travel arrangement with the European Union.
“The Russian government’s similar punitive steps against Georgian NGOs confirm that the Ivanishvili government seeks to destroy dissenting and pro-European groups in Georgia completely. All this is happening at a time when the Ivanishvili government has been given a specific deadline to inform the EU whether it wishes to maintain visa-free travel for the Georgian people. Through such actions, the government is once again signalling to the EU that it does not intend to safeguard visa-free travel for Georgia.
The suspension of NGO activities, which protect the rights and interests of Georgian citizens, leaves thousands of people without access to free legal aid and other essential services. The government’s attempt to undermine these organisations shows that one of its goals is to deprive citizens of support in the face of state repression.
NGOs and media organisations stand with our colleagues, united by our common aspiration: ‘For a free, just, and democratic Georgia,’” the statement reads.
The European-Georgian Institute was among the organisations that joined the statement.
8 Parties Supporting Election Boycott Plan Protest March on September 13
Under the slogan “No to the Russian Regime! Defend Visa-Free Travel, Defend Independence”, eight opposition parties are planning a protest march from Tbilisi State University to Parliament on September 13.
The participating parties — Freedom Square, European Georgia, United National Movement (UNM), Strategy Builder, New, Girchi – More Freedom, Time, and the Federalists — issued a joint statement addressing all opposition parties and politicians “who are truly concerned about the independence and European future of this country.”
The statement calls on them to “end the regime’s complicity in deceiving the Georgian people, avoid making a mistake worse than a crime, refuse to participate in the October 4 ‘special operation,’ and return to the consistent path of unity.”
“We will gather on September 13, at 19:00, near Tbilisi State University and march to the Parliament. We are many, and we will fight until victory!” the statement declares.
Lelo and Gakharia’s Party Nominate Joint Candidates for Majoritarian Seats in Tbilisi
The coalition Lelo–Strong Georgia and the party Gakharia–For Georgia have nominated joint candidates for majoritarian seats in Tbilisi in the upcoming local self-government elections. Out of 25 candidates, 12 represent Lelo, 12 represent Giorgi Gakharia’s party, and 1 is a neutral candidate.
“Our main goal will be to address the needs of Tbilisi’s citizens, to solve their problems. We will fight for the freedom of political prisoners, raise awareness about the real hardships faced by Tbilisi residents, and work to resolve these issues,” said Irakli Kupradze.
Irakli Kupradze, Secretary General of Lelo, has also been nominated as the joint candidate of Lelo–Strong Georgia and Gakharia–For Georgia for the Tbilisi mayoral race.