A coalition of Georgian NGOs has issued a strict call for international intervention, warning of escalating political repression under the ruling Georgian Dream (GD) regime.
In a joint statement released Thursday, the organizations condemned what they describe as a campaign of persecution against opposition politicians, former officials, civil society activists, and journalists. “The Georgian Dream regime is persecuting opposition politicians for refusing to appear before the illegitimate parliament’s unconstitutional investigative commission,” the statement reads.
They accused GD of weaponizing the justice system to silence dissent, warning that prosecutions are being used to enforce legitimacy on a parliament which is widely considered illegitimate after the 2024 elections. “The aim is to eliminate opposition members of parliament and individuals unacceptable to the Georgian Dream regime from political and public life,” the letter declared.
Despite international criticism, GD created a so-called temporary investigative commission within the illegitimate parliament. Under Georgia’s Constitution, such commissions must include proportional opposition representation but the GD-led body is entirely one-party. “This is a direct violation of the Constitution,” the NGOs state, accusing the ruling party of staging a “political imitation” through illegal procedures.
Those called to testify before the commission reportedly face threats of prosecution if they do not appear. “People are being summoned out of fear of criminal liability,” the statement claims. The Prosecutor’s Office has already launched cases against some who refused to attend, seeking pretrial measures.
The signatory groups are now urging OSCE/ODIHR to begin immediate monitoring of what they describe as politically motivated criminal trials, following an appeal from President Salome Zurabishvili. “We call on international organizations to express a strict assessment of the political persecution… and to use all legal mechanisms to hold the Georgian Dream regime accountable.”
The NGOs also pointed our that Georgia’s chief prosecutor and leading judges have been sanctioned by the US, UK, and EU states for alleged human rights abuses and undermining judicial independence.
The April 10 PACE resolution condemned the powers granted to GD’s commission, warning it violated Georgia’s obligations to the Council of Europe. It also criticized the prosecution of former PACE members and opposition figures.
Among the 30 signatory NGOs are Transparency International Georgia, Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA), Human Rights Center (HRC), and Tbilisi Pride.
