The European Green Party has condemned today’s repressive actions of the Georgian authorities towards people working for NGOs.
Georgian citizens and media are reporting that this morning, the authorities raided the homes of two civil society researchers, experts on Russian disinformation. Financial police confiscated electronic devices, read personal notebooks and denied access to a lawyer.
Yesterday, the founder of Georgia's ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili, announced he intends to ban opposition parties should his party clinch victory in a crucial parliamentary election this weekend.
Thomas Waitz, co-chair of the European Green Party said: “Today’s repressive and intimidating home searches show once again that the Georgian government has become increasingly authoritarian and closer to Putin. Two days before the 26 October parliamentary elections, and with independent polls suggesting that a coalition of opposition parties is on course for a victory, apparently the authoritarian regime of “Georgian Dream” around billionaire oligarch Bidzina Ivanishvili, is stepping up its intimidation towards opposition and civil society. The fight against disinformation should concern all of us - yet Ivanishvili’s regime goes after expert researchers two days before a crucial election.”
Co-chair of the European Green Party Mélanie Vogel added: "This is clearly anti-democratic and another sign of the Georgian regime becoming even more authoritarian. We call on all European and international actors to monitor the situation closely, and proceed to sanctions on Ivanishvili and his associates in case of election irregularities or other serious disregard for the rule of law and democratic principles. Georgia belongs in the European Union. When the Georgian people vote for closer connections with Europe, the European Union should help them to move rapidly towards deeper European integration".
