**Georgian Election Watchdog ISFED Inspected by Anti-Corruption Bureau**
In a concerning development for Georgia’s democratic institutions, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), the country’s key election watchdog, has been inspected by the Anti-Corruption Bureau. This move is part of a larger trend where eight civil society organizations have been served with court orders requesting sensitive information over the past week.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau, a public agency under the control of the ruling Georgian Dream party, has been using new anti-constitutional legislation to target civil society groups. These groups include Transparency International (TI) Georgia, Sapari, Economic Policy Research Center, Civil Society Foundation, Georgia’s Future Academy, Social Justice Center, and Media Development Foundation.
**Civil Society Groups Reject Requests as Unjustified**
ISFED has criticized the Bureau’s request, saying it does not properly clarify the necessity of the requested data. The organization has also warned against the breach of privacy for beneficiaries and the confidentiality of advocacy work. Other civil society groups have pledged to appeal the orders and vowed not to hand over sensitive information about their activities.
The targeted organizations argue that their public advocacy and voter mobilization efforts are being wrongly labeled as political activity. They point out that these activities, such as “go-out-and-vote” campaigns and social media posts on different social campaigns, are legitimate and should not be subject to scrutiny by the Anti-Corruption Bureau.
**A Pattern of Intimidation?**
This latest move is part of a broader pattern of intimidation against civil society groups in Georgia. The country’s opposition parties have long accused the Georgian Dream party of using anti-constitutional legislation to silence critics and undermine democratic institutions.
In a statement, ISFED said that the receipt of these court orders “indicates that Georgian Dream and the state bodies under its full control continue to use the recently adopted anti-constitutional and anti-democratic legislation against civil society.” The organization’s criticism highlights the growing concern among human rights groups and opposition parties about the erosion of democratic freedoms in Georgia.
**What’s Next?**
The implications of these inspections are far-reaching, as they threaten the independence and credibility of civil society organizations in Georgia. As the country prepares for elections later this year, the ability of these organizations to operate freely is crucial for ensuring a fair and transparent electoral process.
In light of these developments, it remains to be seen how the Georgian government will respond to the criticism from civil society groups. Will they heed the warnings and revise their legislation to ensure greater transparency and accountability? Or will they continue down the path of intimidation and suppression?
Only time will tell.
Read More @ civil.ge
