“Practically, ‘Georgian Dream’ has killed civil society – what Russia took ten years to do, ‘Georgian Dream’ accomplished in one year,” said Tamta Mikeladze, head of the Social Justice Center, during an appearance on PalitraNews’ program “Resume.”
According to Mikeladze, “Georgian Dream” has initiated three different processes against civil society, which are financially and criminally stifling the ability of civil society organizations to function.
“Against our organization alone, as well as our partner organizations, the ‘Georgian Dream’ government launched three different procedures this summer. First, they started inspections under the Law on Political Associations and the Law on Grants, demanding all kinds of information over the past year and a half, effectively paralyzing the organization. Then, we were informed about the start of an inspection under FARA, the Foreign Agents Registration Act, and they demanded an explanation as to why we don’t consider ourselves foreign agents and why we haven’t registered. Six days after sending our response, we coincidentally discovered that our accounts had been frozen, and as it later became clear, this was done in February under an investigation for sabotage, freezing the accounts of seven organizations. This practically means that today, our organizations—seven organizations – are dysfunctional. We had funds in those accounts that were necessary for our operations, in some cases until the end of the year, and in others until March: employee salaries, rent, utilities, transportation costs, and everything needed for any organization to function. They have practically killed the organizations. The freeze is for 12 months, and we have appealed it, but we have no expectation that the appeal will lead to anything, and they can extend it for another four years, 12 months at a time.
With the adoption of the Russian law, the so-called FARA, organizations in the regions and various communities were shut down one after another. Practically, ‘Georgian Dream’ has killed civil society. We analyze what happened in Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Russia, and the speed at which they did it and the number of laws they passed against civil society – financially and criminally stifling the ability of civil society to operate. They have destroyed civil society to the extent seen in consolidated authoritarian regimes like Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan. They are following the same path,” Tamta Mikeladze stated.
Tamta Mikeladze: Georgian Dream has practically destroyed civil society – to the extent we see in such consolidated authoritarian regimes as Belarus, Russia, and Azerbaijan
