NGO Groups Criticize Georgian Government’s Move to Restrict Their Work
The Georgian government has come under fire from non-governmental organization (NGO) groups for trying to restrict their activities. Nino Dolidze, chairwoman of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, said the government is attempting to suppress civil society.
According to Dolidze, if the government enforces a law requiring NGOs to register as foreign agents in good faith, it will not affect Georgian NGOs at all. However, she warned that if the government uses this law against them, it would be an abuse of power and undermine democracy.
The law in question is based on the American Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), but Dolidze emphasized that it should not be used to silence independent NGOs working for the good of Georgia. She said that the Georgian legislation is being misused by the government to target organizations like hers, which aim to build democracy and promote transparency.
“We believe that this legislation does not apply to us,” Dolidze stated. “If implemented in good faith, it will not bother us at all.”
Dolidze also criticized the Georgian Dream party for trying to restrict NGOs’ activities and using the law as a means of suppressing dissenting voices. She accused them of wanting to use the law against organizations that are independent and impartial.
NGOs Are Not Foreign Agents
The NGO groups, including Dolidze’s organization, insist that they work solely for the benefit of Georgia and its citizens. They claim that their activities are transparent and accountable, and that they do not have a specific political mandate from external funders.
“We will continue our activity without any limits,” Dolidze said. “If the government uses a law that does not apply to us, it means they deviate from the path provided by this legislation.”
Criminal Prosecution Feared
Dolidze expressed concern that representatives of Georgian NGOs might face criminal prosecution for their activities. She mentioned that there are already over 50 people imprisoned on trumped-up charges and warned that this could happen to NGO activists as well.
Withdrawal of Lawsuit Seen as Party Decision
Regarding the decision by Mikheil Kavelashvili, a member of the Constitutional Court, to withdraw a lawsuit filed against the “On Transparency of Foreign Influence” law, Dolidze said it was clear that this was not an individual decision but rather one made by the Georgian Dream party.
“We all know very well that he is doing what the party dictated to him,” she stated.