Georgia’s Ombudsman condemns dismissal of civil servants over political views

Georgia’s Public Defender Levan Ioseliani on Thursday denounced the dismissal of civil servants allegedly due to their openly expressed political opinions following the Georgian Dream Government’s decision late last year to halt EU integration until 2028, calling it “unacceptable” and a violation of labor rights.

The Ombudsman’s Office announced it was currently investigating eight cases of alleged discrimination in labor relations, affecting a total of 15 individuals. The cases, it said, had followed reports that since late December 2024, dozens of public sector employees had been dismissed, with many claiming political motives behind their termination.

The Office further noted personnel decisions within public institutions “must adhere to constitutional labor rights and uphold the principle of equality”.

The Ombudsman’s representatives have also reached out to 41 dismissed individuals, offering guidance on legal procedures and avenues for seeking redress. Some of the dismissed civil servants are reportedly preparing to take legal action to challenge their dismissals.

The statement further emphasized the fundamental right to freedom of expression and underlined that discrimination based on political beliefs was unacceptable. “It is inadmissible to dismiss employees of the public service due to their openly expressed civil position or opinions,” the Public Defender’s Office asserted.

Recent legal amendments have granted heads of public institutions the authority to dismiss employees in managerial positions under administrative contracts with just one month’s notice. Critics argue the changes have made it easier to remove individuals based on political considerations.

The wave of dismissals has sparked concerns over political interference in public service employment, with many former civil servants alleging they were targeted for their political activism or dissenting views.