Georgia’s civil sector on Tuesday criticized a new initiative from the ruling Georgian Dream party, which seeks to prohibit the receipt of foreign grants without the consent of the Georgian government. NGOs argued that the proposed law would block international support for Georgian citizens and organizations, undermining the country’s civil society and its ties to friendly nations.
According to the civil sector, the law would prevent Georgia’s international partners and organizations from supporting local citizens and groups without government approval. In a statement, NGOs condemned the initiative, calling it a form of persecution against the people, which would effectively isolate Georgia and give the ruling party totalitarian control over public life.
“Today, when state agencies have become party appendages, and the only way to protect people is through civil solidarity and activism, the proposed law is an act of persecution and aims to sever the Georgian people from the international community’s support,” the statement reads. “This is a continuation of the strategy to destroy Georgia’s civil society, a goal that has not been achieved despite the adoption of ‘Russian laws’ and the persecution of those who support civil solidarity.”
Civil society organizations further warned that the law could disrupt the activities of media outlets and NGOs, leaving vulnerable groups – including women, children, the elderly, students, victims of violence, and journalists – without crucial aid and protection.
They argued that the law would make it harder for these groups to benefit from international support in critical areas such as healthcare, human rights, and freedom of expression.
“This move is not just about foreign grants, it’s about the Georgian government cutting off its citizens from the wider world, imposing a system where only those who align with the ruling party can access resources,” the statement continued. “We will not live by Russian laws. We will resist this act of persecution to the end.”
The legislation has been branded as another repressive measure against civil society and media organizations in Georgia. Critics warn that it represents an erosion of Georgia’s democratic freedoms and its connection to the West, further deepening the divide between the government and its people.
