Georgia's Escalating Crackdown: Opposition and Protest-Supporting NGOs Face Account Freezes

Elene Khoshtaria says bank accounts of her and Droa Party have been frozen

Tbilisi, Georgia – In a concerning development for civil liberties in Georgia, both a leading opposition party and several non-governmental organizations (NGOs) providing aid to protesters have reported that their bank accounts have been frozen by authorities. These actions are being widely seen as part of a broader, intensified crackdown on dissent and civil society by the ruling Georgian Dream party.

The latest targets include the opposition party Droa and its prominent leader, Elene Khoshtaria, alongside five NGOs known for offering financial and legal assistance to individuals detained during anti-government protests.

Elene Khoshtaria, a key figure in the Coalition for Change and leader of the Droa party, announced on social media on Tuesday that both her personal bank account and the party's accounts had been frozen. Both Khoshtaria and Droa reportedly learned of the punitive measure via SMS notifications.

According to Ketevan Barbakadze, Droa’s lawyer, the freeze on the party's accounts is ostensibly linked to an allegedly unpaid ₾50 ($18) court fee dating back to an appeal of the 2021 local municipal election results. Barbakadze vehemently denies the party failed to pay this fee, stating, "We had paid the fees […] A complaint won’t even be registered unless the fee is paid. I have no legal explanation for what they’ve come up with, how they calculated the amount, or what exactly they’re demanding. It’s absurd." She added that the party received no prior notice before the accounts were frozen, bypassing the voluntary enforcement stage entirely.

The freeze on Khoshtaria's personal accounts is believed to be a separate issue, likely connected to a series of recent fines issued against her. In just over a month, she has been fined three times, including a significant ₾4,000 ($1,500) fine on June 19 for allegedly "insulting" Georgian Dream's parliamentary leader, Mamuka Mdinaradze, in a social media post.

Despite the financial pressure, Khoshtaria remains defiant. She stated, "You’ll never see a single fine paid by me, nor will I appear for any interrogation or court hearing," and asserted that the party’s donations are "in a safe place" and were not affected by the freeze. However, Droa’s lawyer emphasized that access to its account is crucial for the party to function properly.

The freezing of accounts extends beyond political parties to civil society organizations supporting protesters. On March 17, three Georgian NGOs—Nanuka's Fund (led by journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani), Prosperity Georgia (led by former Prime Minister Nika Gilauri), and the Tbilisi Human Rights House—were notified by their banks of an urgent court order to freeze their accounts. Subsequently, Fund for Unity 24/7 and It's Shame also confirmed similar measures.

These organizations are vital for providing financial assistance, including fine payments, and legal representation to individuals detained during ongoing anti-government protests. Like Droa, none of these NGOs were notified of any financial claims prior to the asset freezes.

The Prosecutor's Office later issued a statement claiming the funds were seized as part of a "sabotage" investigation, alleging they were used for "alleged acts of violence and property damage" related to the protests. However, no official evidence or further details have been provided to substantiate these claims.

Denis Krivosheev, Deputy Director for Eastern Europe and Central Asia at Amnesty International, strongly condemned the actions, calling them "yet another blatant attack on human rights." He stated, "This measure is aimed at further suppressing the rights to peaceful assembly and association and violates Georgia's international human rights obligations." Krivosheev urged Georgian authorities to "immediately cease their relentless persecution of civil society and peaceful protests" and to lift the arbitrary asset freezes without delay.

Local activists have warned that this concerted attack on organizations providing crucial support to protesters could effectively "kill the entire protest movement."

These account freezes occur within a broader context of the Georgian Dream government's increasing repression of civil society and dissent. This includes the alleged weaponization of the criminal justice system and the adoption of unduly restrictive legislative amendments. Changes to the "Law on Assemblies and Demonstrations" have significantly increased fines, extended administrative detention periods, and prohibited actions like covering one's face in public. Furthermore, new legislative measures have targeted NGOs and independent media through restrictions on foreign funding, expanded state control over grants, and the introduction of new offenses, such as insulting officials.

These combined actions, coupled with expanded law enforcement powers, are seen as severely undermining the right to peaceful assembly and imposing an enormous financial and legal burden on those who choose to protest.