The US Helsinki Commission has accused Georgia’s ruling party, “Georgian Dream,” of weaponizing the judicial system to suppress political opponents, warning of an increasingly harsh crackdown on dissent.
In a statement released on Friday, the Commission said that Georgian Dream is using the courts “as a weapon to silence all those people who pose a challenge to their power,” expressing concern over what it described as the growing politicization of the judiciary in the country.
The statement specifically highlights the case of Elene Khoshtaria, leader of the opposition party “Droa,” who was sentenced to one year and six months in prison. She was found guilty of damaging property after writing “Russian Dream” on a pre-election banner belonging to Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze last September.
Helsinki Commission says that Khoshtaria’s case is part of a broader pattern, with opposition figures now facing the risk of significantly more severe charges. The statement notes that Khoshtaria and other opposition leaders could face prison sentences ranging from 7 to 15 years for alleged “crimes committed against the state.”
The Commission’s remarks come during heightened political tensions in Georgia, where both domestic and international observers have increasingly raised concerns about democratic backsliding, the rule of law, and the treatment of opposition figures.
The Georgian government has not yet issued an official response to the Helsinki Commission’s latest statement.
