Investigation Summoning of Non-Government Organization Leaders Over Allegations of Disruption Incident in Georgia

The Caucasus region is experiencing changes, with independent journalism in the region facing threats. The Georgian Prosecutor General's Office has recently summoned the heads of several NGOs, including Nino Dolidze, a former head of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), as part of an ongoing 'sabotage' case.

The summons are in connection with this 'sabotage' case, which was initiated in February and affects a wide spectrum of government critics. The investigation is being pursued on charges of sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assistance in hostile activities to foreign organisations, organisations under foreign control, and mobilisation of funds for activities directed against the constitutional structure of Georgia and the foundations of national security.

However, the Prosecutor General's Office did not specify which NGOs were referred to in its statement. The accounts of seven prominent NGOs, including ISFED, Civil Society Foundation, IDFI, SJC, Sapari, GDI, and Democracy Defenders, were frozen following accusations of facilitating violence against the police during anti-government protests in 2024.

Following the freezing of the accounts, pro-government media outlet TV Imedi published a list of basic protective equipment purchased by some of the NGOs, claiming this was the evidence used to freeze their accounts. The equipment included masks, respirators, protective goggles, and other materials used during protests, including by journalists who were there as part of their professional duties.

The actions against NGOs have been widely condemned, both by civil society within Georgia and from the country's traditional allies in the West. The search results do not provide information about the identities of the other top NGO representatives accused by the Georgian Prosecutor General's Office alongside Nino Dolidze.

In response to these threats, a newsroom is being built, powered by readers. This initiative aims to provide a platform for independent journalism in the region and to ensure the continuation of free and fair reporting. It serves as a testament to the resilience of the journalists and NGOs in the face of adversity and their commitment to upholding the principles of transparency and democracy.

Investigation Summoning of Non-Government Organization Leaders Over Allegations of Disruption Incident in Georgia