The “Georgian Dream” has started a new stage of repressions against civil society, targeting up to 30 Georgian non-governmental organizations

The “Georgian Dream”, acting through the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Razden Kuprashvili, has started a new stage of repressive enforcement of laws restricting civil society, this time against up to 30 Georgian civil society organizations, including the signatory ones.

The actions of the Anti-Corruption Bureau are part of a unified process of persecution and pressure on civil society organizations. Its goal is to prevent Georgian non-governmental organizations, which have served for decades to protect human rights and strengthen democratic institutions in the country, from continuing their activities effectively and from safeguarding the interests of society.

Following 8 September 2025, Razhden Kuprashvili has sent letters to civil society organizations about the initiation of monitoring based on the unconstitutional “Law on Grants”. Razhden Kuprashvili demands information on various categories regarding the organizations’ activities after 16 April 2025, without even formally complying with the procedures established by the “Law on Grants”. The Bureau failed to indicate the articles under which such information was requested, including the period starting from 16 April, despite the fact that the repressive amendments to the “Law on Grants” entered into force only on 17 April.

In response to Razhden Kuprashvili’s letter, the recipient organizations explained in written form that it was Kuprashvili himself who was violating the “Law on Grants”. They further informed him that, following the entry into force of the repressive amendments to the law, they had not concluded any new grant agreements nor had they made amendments to existing ones. Accordingly, the initiation of monitoring procedures against them under the “Law on Grants” was unlawful. Civil society organizations also requested access to the case materials from

Kuprashvili’s Bureau. However, the Bureau continues to withhold this information, thereby additionally violating the existing legislation.

Following the response letter, Razhden Kuprashvili is trying to use the courts to ensure the enforcement of repressive laws. The Bureau is gradually applying to the courts with motions against civil society organizations. On September 17 Tbilisi City Court issued an order against nine organizations. The court fully satisfied the motion of Razhden Kuprashvili’s agency and obliged the organizations to provide the Bureau with information related to their activities.

It is noteworthy that neither the Bureau’s letter nor the court order specifies the particular factual circumstances on which the alleged non-compliance or violation of the obligations by the organizations is based, assessed according to the standard of reasonable belief. The court actually transferred the reasoning of the Bureau’s motion unchanged into the order, without examining either the factual or legal basis of the motion, thereby refusing to exercise the judicial control granted to it by law.

Adopting a decision that merely reproduces the position of an administrative body undermines the constitutional function of proper judicial control and places both the legal status of civil society organizations and the protection of personal data at risk. It is the role of the court to thoroughly examine the legality of the administrative body’s actions, which includes not only verifying formal compliance but also exercising substantive control.

Despite the unlawfully initiated monitoring, we continue our activities and legal efforts to stop the enforcement of repressive laws. We will use all available legal means to protect our rights and the rights of the citizens of Georgia.

The signatory organizations:

1. Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA)

2. Prevention For Progress

3. Europe Foundation

4. Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group

5. Animal Shelter Peteasy

6. The Georgian Centre for Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation of Torture Victims

7. Civic Idea

8. Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI)

9. Equality Movement

10. Research-Intellectual Club “Dialogue of Generations” (RICDOG)

11. Rights Georgia

12. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)

13. EuroClub Kvareli

14. Europe-Georgia Institute

15. Media Center Kakheti

16. Human Rights Center

17. Youth for Democratic Changes

18. Civil Society Institute

19. Institute of Democracy

20. Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia