Nine international human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch (HRW), have called upon the European Union (EU) and its member states to address the escalating repression of civil society in Georgia. In a joint statement, these organizations urged the EU to publicly condemn the Georgian authorities for their actions against local civil society groups, aligning with the EU Guidelines on Human Rights Defenders. They also recommended that EU member states deliver a unified statement on human rights in Georgia during the 60th session of the UN Human Rights Council. Iskra Kirova, Europe and Central Asia advocacy director at HRW, stated, “The harassment of these groups violates Georgia’s obligations under multiple human rights treaties. EU member states should muster the consensus to press the government to change course.”
The joint statement also called for the EU to adopt the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, which allows participating states to collectively address human rights concerns in any member state. This mechanism is a follow-up to the OSCE Vienna Mechanism, previously triggered against Georgia in 2024.
This appeal follows the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia’s recent decision to freeze the assets of seven Georgian NGOs, alleging that these organizations funded violent actions against police during the 2024 protests. The International Society of Fair Elections and Democracy, one of the affected groups, commented that the prosecutor’s decision “violates fundamental human rights and serves to sabotage the European integration process.”
Protests erupted in Georgia in October 2024 after allegations of election manipulation and the government’s decision to suspend EU accession negotiations. The passage of Georgia’s “foreign influence” law led to a severe crackdown on protesters, resulting in prison sentences for eleven individuals, the arrest of opposition leaders, and reports of gender-based violence against women protesters. Consequently, the EU adopted a resolution in February 2025 rejecting the legitimacy of the newly elected Georgian authorities.
In April 2025, Georgia’s parliament, dominated by the ruling Georgian Dream party, passed a controversial bill restricting foreign grants to local organizations. The law mandates that any monetary or in-kind foreign donations must receive government approval, with penalties for noncompliance. It also prohibits international groups from organizing events for Georgian political parties. This move is viewed as part of an ongoing crackdown on civil society and pro-Western opposition groups. The opposition has boycotted parliament following contested elections in October. This legislation follows a prior law requiring foreign-funded groups to register as “foreign agents.” Bidzina Ivanishvili, a powerful former prime minister, has accused grant recipients of being manipulated by Western intelligence to provoke military conflict with Russia. Georgia’s ties with the West continue to fray as the Georgian Dream party delays EU accession talks until 2028, prompting international sanctions and condemnation. Despite asserting a desire for eventual EU membership, the ruling party promotes closer ties with Russia and traditional domestic values. A bill that could broadly ban opposition parties recently passed its first reading, pending final approval after local elections. The EU’s top foreign policy official labeled the new law as “repressive,” warning it undermines Georgia’s EU candidacy.
In response to these developments, the EU has taken measures to express its disapproval. In July 2024, the EU froze 30 million euros in military aid to Georgia, marking a significant downturn in relations. This action followed Georgia’s recent law requiring foreign-funded groups to register as foreign agents, which has been criticized as a means to suppress dissent. EU ambassador Pawel Herczynski indicated that this freeze is only the beginning, with further reductions in aid likely, shifting support instead to Georgia’s civil society and media. The bill’s passage has strained Georgia’s relationship with the West and impacted its EU membership prospects. Consequently, the EU has signaled that Georgia’s accession process is on hold, and recent Western criticism highlights concerns over the Georgian government’s authoritarian direction and closer ties with Russia and China.
Amnesty International has also condemned the Georgian government’s actions. In June 2025, the Tbilisi City Court granted the Anti-Corruption Bureau the right to demand extensive information from five civil society organizations, including Transparency International Georgia and the Civil Society Foundation. This order has been criticized as a blow to freedom of association and an attempt to curtail the rights to freedom of association and expression.
These developments underscore the growing concerns among international human rights organizations regarding the state of civil liberties in Georgia. The call for EU intervention reflects the urgency of addressing the Georgian government’s actions against civil society and the potential implications for the country’s European integration aspirations.