The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) has strongly condemned recent measures taken against the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), one of Georgia’s leading independent election observer groups and a long-standing ENEMO member.
At the request of the Prosecutor’s Office, a Tbilisi City Court judge froze the bank accounts of ISFED and several other civil society organizations. ENEMO warned that such actions obstruct the work of impartial election monitors ahead of local elections, jeopardize transparency, and undermine public trust in Georgia’s democratic institutions.
For decades, ISFED has played a vital role in ensuring free and fair elections through professional and independent monitoring. Targeting ISFED and other NGOs with restrictive measures, ENEMO stressed, violates Georgia’s constitutional guarantees and its international obligations to protect fundamental freedoms, including the right to association.
“Credible elections cannot take place without impartial observers who ensure accountability, document violations, and reinforce public trust,” ENEMO stated. It urged Georgian authorities to lift the restrictions immediately, refrain from further interference, and ensure that observers can operate without intimidation or reprisals.
The organization also expressed solidarity with ISFED and Georgia’s civil sector, commending their resilience and ongoing commitment to transparency and accountability despite what it described as a hostile environment created by the ruling Georgian Dream party.
