Because of the unbroken struggle, the government attacked NGOs, took away their money and threatened to arrest them. This is a deliberate step in the Russian style. This is a deliberate step so that we lose visa-free travel and never have a European perspective again, – one of the leaders of the Coalition for Change, Elene Khoshtaria, said regarding the seizure of bank accounts of some NGOs.
According to her, by attacking NGOs, Georgia is losing fundamental signs of civilization.
“In a few days, on August 31, the deadline that the European Union gave Georgia to save visa-free travel to Europe will expire. The only chance for this survival was for the Georgian Dream to stop the violence, political persecution, deepening of the crisis and the destruction of statehood, which the “Russian Dream” has been engaged in for the past few years. Naturally, there was no expectation that the “Russian Dream” would accomplish anything, but just a few days before, against this backdrop, the “Russian Dream” comes out and attacks the non-governmental sector, robs them. The seizure that was imposed on non-governmental organizations is robbery and theft of money in the Russian style, they are threatened with arrest. I would like to express my full solidarity, support and admiration for our non-governmental sector, which for years, with the limitations of their own comfort and well-being, has been protecting the interests of Georgia. This is the historical principle that our NGOs demonstrate together with the citizens of Georgia. That is why, because of this unbroken struggle, the government attacked them, took away their money and threatened them with arrest. This is a deliberate move in the Russian style. NGOs are attacked and threatened in Russia, only in Russia. This is a deliberate move so that we lose visa-free travel and never have a European perspective again, so that Georgia is placed in isolation. Therefore, it is our duty not to tolerate this. As the “Russian Dream” and visa-free travel are incompatible, we must fight against the “Russian Dream”, end the “Russian Dream” and show the whole world that the Georgian people do not tolerate this unconstitutional force. That is why, on September 13, we will gather at TSU at 7:00 PM and demonstrate our resolute struggle. No one is going to give up Georgia’s European agenda, nor the rights of people fighting, nor the rights of prisoners of conscience, nor the rights of the non-governmental sector, we must fight to the end.
This government and Europe are incompatible. Not only will they not achieve anything, they will further deepen the crisis and restrict human rights. Georgia is losing even the fundamental signs of civilization through attacks on NGOs. Therefore, our task is to show the pro-Western opposition, the non-governmental sector and citizens, the whole world, that we do not represent the “Russian Dream” and the fact that they do not fulfill their obligations and cannot fulfill them does not mean that Georgia is adapting to this situation. We must fight against this regime. We must destroy this regime, end it, in order to be able to return to the European agenda with dignity,” said Elene Khoshtaria.
For information, the Prosecutor’s Office’s motion to seize the bank accounts of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, Guardians of Democracy, Georgian Democratic Initiative, Sapari and Social Justice Center has been granted. The Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia issued a corresponding statement.
The case concerns an investigation ongoing in the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia into the facts of sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assistance to a foreign organization or an organization under foreign control in hostile activities, and mobilization of funds for activities directed against the constitutional order and foundations of national security of Georgia.
Elene Khoshtaria on seizure of NGOs’ accounts: This is a deliberate step in the Russian style, this is a deliberate step so that we lose visa-free travel and never have a European perspective again
