**Georgia’s Civil Servants’ Union Blocked by Public Registry**
The Georgian Public Registry has refused to register the “Independent Trade Union of Civil Servants – Article 78 of the Constitution”. This union was created to protect the rights of civil servants who were dismissed from their jobs allegedly for political reasons.
According to Transparency International-Georgia, a local watchdog group, the Public Registry’s decisions are motivated by politics. The director of TI-Georgia, Eka Gigauri, said that the ruling Georgian Dream government is “afraid” of a union of independent civil servants because it contradicts their goal of having a civil service that is obedient and slavish to the government.
The civil servants’ union was founded in December after the GD’s decision to abandon EU integration and the subsequent purge of civil servants who criticized the ruling party and supported pro-EU protests. Despite submitting necessary documents, the Public Registry has rejected the union’s application multiple times, including once because they “disliked” the trade union’s name.
Gigauri said that the Public Registry is acting arbitrarily and contradicting Georgian law and international obligations. The union has appealed to the International Labor Organization for help.
Over 400 civil servants have been dismissed in recent months, with many working in government agencies such as the Public Registry, Probation Agency, and Civil Service Hall. Gigauri said that these dismissals are punishment for upholding the Georgian Constitution and distancing themselves from unlawful activities in the country.
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