Georgia laws destroying independent civil society, Human Rights Watch warns

A legislative campaign in Georgia has severely restricted independent organisations and cut off vital funding, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.

In a new report, the international campaign group said the Tbilisi government must stop treating civic activity as a threat and repeal measures designed to silence critics.

The report, titled Georgia: New Laws Are Destroying Independent Civil Society Groups, claims the authorities are making alarming progress towards dismantling the country's independent civil society.

"It is creating a system in which independent organisations can no longer operate safely, maintain funding or provide support to the communities that have relied on them for years," said Hugh Williamson, HRW's Europe and Central Asia director.

The report focuses on the controversial 2024 Law on the Transparency of Foreign Influence, which requires groups receiving foreign funding to register as "organisations pursuing the interests of a foreign power".

A subsequent Law on the Registration of Foreign Agents, passed in April 2025, further expanded state oversight to almost all organisations and individuals working with international partners.

Additionally, recent amendments to the Law on Grants have criminalised accepting foreign funding without prior government approval.

HRW said it was aware of several cases where grants were blocked.

These included a British Embassy-funded project to monitor Georgia’s 2025 municipal elections, which was publicly criticised by parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who accused the embassy of financing "extremism, hatred and propaganda".

The restrictions have had a devastating impact on regional groups, with the number of active civil society organisations operating across Georgia falling from 114 in 2024 to just 37 in 2025.

An unpublished study by the Social Justice Center, cited in the report, found that 96% of 100 organisations surveyed were experiencing serious financial difficulties, with 94% forced to scale back their activities.

Major organisations, including the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, have suspended free legal aid programmes, while others have admitted to self-censorship.

One activist working on disability rights told HRW her group refused to register under the transparency law after learning the Ministry of Justice required them to disclose the personal and medical data of their beneficiaries.

HRW prepared its report by interviewing 15 Georgian activists, lawyers, and non-governmental leaders, alongside reviewing official correspondence from the Georgian government and State Audit Office.

The campaign group has called on Georgia's international partners to impose targeted sanctions and increase direct financial support for independent local organisations.A legislative campaign in Georgia has severely restricted independent organisations and cut off vital funding, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has said.

In a new report, the international campaign group said the Tbilisi government must stop treating civic activity as a threat and repeal measures designed to silence critics.

The report, titled Georgia: New Laws Are Destroying Independent Civil Society Groups, claims the authorities are making alarming progress towards dismantling the country's independent civil society.

"It is creating a system in which independent organisations can no longer operate safely, maintain funding or provide support to the communities that have relied on them for years," said Hugh Williamson, HRW's Europe and Central Asia director.

The report focuses on the controversial 2024 Law on the Transparency of Foreign Influence, which requires groups receiving foreign funding to register as "organisations pursuing the interests of a foreign power".

A subsequent Law on the Registration of Foreign Agents, passed in April 2025, further expanded state oversight to almost all organisations and individuals working with international partners.

Additionally, recent amendments to the Law on Grants have criminalised accepting foreign funding without prior government approval.

HRW said it was aware of several cases where grants were blocked.

These included a British Embassy-funded project to monitor Georgia’s 2025 municipal elections, which was publicly criticised by parliamentary speaker Shalva Papuashvili, who accused the embassy of financing "extremism, hatred and propaganda".

The restrictions have had a devastating impact on regional groups, with the number of active civil society organisations operating across Georgia falling from 114 in 2024 to just 37 in 2025.

An unpublished study by the Social Justice Center, cited in the report, found that 96% of 100 organisations surveyed were experiencing serious financial difficulties, with 94% forced to scale back their activities.

Major organisations, including the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association, have suspended free legal aid programmes, while others have admitted to self-censorship.

One activist working on disability rights told HRW her group refused to register under the transparency law after learning the Ministry of Justice required them to disclose the personal and medical data of their beneficiaries.

HRW prepared its report by interviewing 15 Georgian activists, lawyers, and non-governmental leaders, alongside reviewing official correspondence from the Georgian government and State Audit Office.

The campaign group has called on Georgia's international partners to impose targeted sanctions and increase direct financial support for independent local organisations.