Georgian Court Freezes Accounts of Seven NGOs Accused of Funding 2024 Protests

Tbilisi, Georgia – 27 August 2025 – The Tbilisi City Court has ordered the freezing of accounts belonging to seven non-governmental organisations (NGOs), following allegations by the Georgian Prosecutor General's Office that these groups financed unrest in Georgia during 2024. The Prosecutor General's Office stated that the investigation found evidence that the provision of "special means" to protesters for violent actions against law enforcement was coordinated, partly through funds from these NGOs.

The investigation, which commenced on 10 February 2025, was initiated based on a statement from the public movement "United Neutral Georgia". The Prosecutor's Office has been looking into potential sabotage and the provision of assistance to foreign organisations engaged in hostile activities.

According to the prosecution, the named NGOs allegedly purchased a variety of items for protest participants, including gas masks, protective glasses, face-covering masks, pepper spray, and other equipment used during confrontations with the police. Furthermore, the leaders of these organisations are accused of openly calling for civil disobedience. The funds from these NGOs were also reportedly used to pay fines for arrested protesters and provide them with legal defence. The Prosecutor's Office suggests that these actions both encouraged participation in unlawful activities and provided patronage to those involved.

The seven non-governmental organisations whose accounts have been frozen are:

• Civil Society Foundation (Фонд гражданского общества)

• International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (Международное общество справедливых выборов и демократии)

• Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (Институт развития свободы информации)

• Democracy Defenders (фонд "Защитники демократии")

• Georgian Democratic Initiative (Демократическая инициатива Грузии)

• Sapari (Сафари/Сапари)

• Centre for Social Justice (Центр социальной справедливости)

The events in question refer to a series of mass protests that took place in Georgia throughout 2024. In the spring, these protests were sparked by the parliamentary adoption of a controversial "foreign agents" law. Later in the year, between late October and early November, further protests erupted following parliamentary elections, whose results were disputed by the opposition. A new wave of demonstrations began on 28 November after then-Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze announced a halt to negotiations regarding Georgia's accession to the European Union. These protests were often characterised by confrontations with security forces, who employed special measures to disperse demonstrators.