Prepared by Messenger Staff
Zourabichvili Condemns NGO Asset Seizures as Step Toward Russian Model
The 5th President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili, sharply criticized the government on Tuesday, describing the seizure of NGO assets as an attack on civil society and a sign of growing authoritarianism.
At a briefing, Zourabichvili called the charges against NGOs "absurd" and warned that Georgia is being pushed closer to Russia's political system. "We cannot all fail to understand that this government has taken Georgia one step closer to the Russian model and the formation of the Russian regime continues at a very rapid pace," she said. "What is happening today to NGOs and the accusations that have been made are only a form of the repressive regime that we saw earlier in Russia. The only difference is that it is developing faster in Georgia than in Russia at the time."
She noted that civil society organizations have faced mounting pressure and denounced the lack of evidence behind the accusations. "We see attacks on NGOs. On the other hand, after nine months of detention, we are moving to the final processes. Serious accusations, completely unfounded. There is no evidence. It turns out that we have to come to terms with this. Today, the time has come for society to come to terms coming to terms means that we will hand this country over to Russia. I do not think that Georgia is ready to surrender. If I believed that, I would not be here. I believe that Georgia will never surrender," Zourabichvili said.
In addition to addressing the NGO issue, Zourabichvili criticized opposition parties for considering participation in the upcoming local elections. She argued that political actors should focus instead on safeguarding Georgia's sovereignty. "I cannot help but address those parties that are playing with participation in the local elections today. Where is the country, and where is there any election campaign to convince someone that these elections will change something and achieve something? Our task is to save the future of the country, to save the independence of Georgia," she said.
ISFED Director Accuses Government of Sabotaging EU Path
The director of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Levan Natroshvili, has condemned the decision to freeze the bank accounts of seven NGOs, calling it a political attack aimed at undermining Georgia's European future.
"The Georgian Dream wants the EU to abolish visa-free travel for Georgia - there is no other explanation for the steps they have taken," Natroshvili told InterpressNews. "It should be clear to everyone that the Georgian Dream is sabotaging the issue of visa liberalization."
The Prosecutor's Office said the freeze is linked to an investigation into the misuse of NGO funds, but Natroshvili dismissed the claims as "complete absurdity" and "persecution on political grounds." He argued that providing legal aid to citizens, including protesters, has long been part of NGOs' legitimate work and cannot be treated as criminal activity.
Natroshvili linked the move to a wider pattern of repression. "This is another step to destroy civil organizations, following the adoption of restrictive and unconstitutional laws. Georgia has moved to a stage of authoritarian development when nothing is ruled out - including the criminal prosecution of NGO leaders," he said.
He warned that the government's policies could threaten Georgia's visa-free travel with the EU and violate the Constitution. "This is direct sabotage. Georgian citizens should know whose fault it will be if this actually happens," Natroshvili said, vowing that NGOs will continue to fight using all legal mechanisms.
