The National Bureau of Enforcement has confirmed that the political party “Lelo for Georgia” has paid an administrative fine imposed by court decision, concluding ongoing enforcement proceedings and lifting restrictions that had previously been placed on the party’s bank accounts.
“We wish to inform the public that ‘Lelo for Georgia’ has paid the administrative fine imposed by the court’s decision. Accordingly, the National Bureau of Enforcement has concluded the proceedings and lifted the restrictions on the party’s accounts,” the Bureau announced in an official statement.
The Bureau emphasized that it acts in full accordance with Georgian law, stressing that “all enforcement actions are conducted with impartiality and legality, whether the debtor is an individual, a legal entity, or a state institution.” The agency reaffirmed that its operations are “guided by principles of justice and the effective execution of legal decisions.”
Lelo Alleges Political Harassment behind Account Freeze
While the National Bureau of Enforcement portrayed the case as a routine legal matter, the Lelo – Strong Georgia coalition leaders have strongly condemned the account freeze, describing it as a politically motivated act orchestrated by the ruling Georgian Dream government.
At a special press briefing on Wednesday, Irakli Kupradze, General Secretary of the coalition, called the freeze “a reckless attempt to obstruct the coalition’s political fight.” He framed the move as part of a broader campaign of harassment against the party and its founder, Mamuka Khazaradze.
“For the past five days, the illegitimate ‘Georgian Dream’ government – led by the illegitimate Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze and the so-called Speaker of Parliament Shalva Papuashvili – has launched an absurd and politically motivated attack on our coalition,” Kupradze stated.
“They are inventing ridiculous mechanisms like freezing our account in a desperate attempt to silence us. But we are not intimidated. We are in a fight against a violent, Russian-aligned regime, and we will prevail – together with the citizens of Georgia.”
Kupradze claimed the coalition received notice earlier that day regarding the account freeze, allegedly due to a 130 GEL court fee related to a lawsuit Lelo filed in 2022 against the Kaspi election district. He argued that the fee had already been paid, pointing out that the court accepted the case at the time, which would not have been possible without payment.
He further criticized what he called a pattern of political pressure, noting the recent targeting of the German Ambassador by the ruling party and linking it to broader efforts to undermine pro-Western political forces in Georgia.
The Broader Political Climate
Lelo leaders argue that the administrative enforcement—despite now being resolved—is part of a systematic attempt to suppress opposition voices, using state institutions like the Ministry of Justice, the Anti-Corruption Agency, and now the Enforcement Bureau to create legal and financial obstacles for dissenting political groups.
Kupradze concluded his remarks by highlighting Mamuka Khazaradze’s contributions to Georgia’s economy and civil society, dismissing what he called “laughable propaganda” from Georgian Dream, while warning the public of the seriousness of the situation:
“This is not just a political stunt – it’s part of a calculated strategy to tie our hands and undermine democratic resistance in Georgia.”
By Team GT
