Georgian CSOs Report New Inspections Under Law on Grants
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, September 23, 2025
Up to 30 Georgian civil society organizations say they are facing fresh inspections by the Anti-Corruption Bureau under the Law on Grants. The groups describe the move as another round of government pressure targeting independent organizations.
In a joint statement issued on September 22, the organizations said they received inspection notices earlier this month. The bureau, headed by Razhden Kuprashvili, requested extensive information about their activities since April. The groups noted that the letters did not cite specific legal grounds.
"The bureau is violating the Law on Grants," the statement read. "Since the amendments came into force on April 17, we have neither signed new grant agreements nor changed old ones. This makes the inspections unlawful."
The Anti-Corruption Bureau declined to provide case materials to the organizations but petitioned the Tbilisi City Court to compel compliance. On September 17, the court granted the bureau's requests against nine organizations, ordering them to submit information.
According to the groups, the ruling failed to provide evidence of wrongdoing. "The court simply reproduced the bureau's arguments without due review," they said. "This undermines judicial oversight and puts both civil society and personal data at risk."
Despite the court's decision, the organizations pledged to continue resisting what they call repressive legislation. "Despite the illegally launched monitoring, we continue our work and legal battle to stop enforcement of the repressive laws," they said, vowing to use "every legal mechanism to protect our rights and those of the citizens of Georgia."
The latest inspections follow two earlier rounds this summer. In June, eight organizations were ordered to hand over data under several laws, including the Law on Grants and the Law on Political Associations. In August, seven CSOs were targeted under the government's version of the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which they refused to comply with, arguing the law did not apply to them. Later that month, authorities froze the bank accounts of several groups, alleging they funded protests that turned violent.
The most recent action affects a broader range of organizations, including the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association, the Europe Foundation, Civic Idea, the Human Rights Center, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, and the Women's Initiatives Supporting Group, among others.
