20 NGOs say Gov’t “aggressive campaign” against them “alarming”

Twenty local non-governmental organizations have stated that the ruling Georgian Dream’s “aggressive campaign” against them has reached an “alarming level,” in comments of the recent decision of the Georgia Dream party to ban the domestic watchdog, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy NGO, from participating in the parliamentary working group on electoral issues for Georgia’s EU candidacy, calling the NGO “politically biased”. 

In a joint statement released earlier today, the NGOs said that the “the attack on civil organizations by the Georgian Dream has the goal to block the public control over the activities of the Government, which is another clear manifestation of authoritarianism and indicates the irreversible trend of its formation.”

“After the GD  blocked the participation of ISFED in the working group created by the ruling party to fulfill the 12- point conditions had set by the EU for Georgia’s membership candidate status, which was followed by the suspension of work in such groups by other non-governmental organizations, and the subsequent attack of the ruling party head Irakli Kobakhidze on domestic NGOs, is nothing more than an attempt by Georgian Dream to neutralize public control over the activities of the Government, “ said the NGOs. 

The NGOs suggested that the GD “attacked” those individuals and organizations that “actively monitor the activities of the Government, criticize the current dangerous policies, call on the Government to review its agenda and start taking real steps towards the development of the country towards European integration”. 

The GD said that ISFED’s incorrect parallel vote count data released after the 2020 parliamentary elections was used as a “reason” by the opposition to accuse the authority of fabricating elections and  boycotting the parliamentary work. 

The ruling party also said that ISFED backed anti-Government rallies.