**Authorities Freeze Opposition Party’s Bank Accounts, Leader Refuses to Cooperate**
In a move that has been widely condemned as an attempt to silence the opposition, authorities in Georgia have frozen the bank accounts of the Droa party and its leader, Elene Khoshtaria. The reason given for this action was that the party had failed to pay a court fee of GEL 50 (approximately USD 18) related to its appeal against the results of the 2021 municipal election.
However, Khoshtaria has claimed that this is simply a “form of repression” and that the party’s donations are safe in another account. She pointed out that the frozen account contained only GEL 17, making it unlikely that this was the real reason for the move.
**A Pattern of Repression**
This latest development comes just days after Khoshtaria had called on her supporters to donate to the party via Facebook. The opposition leader had thanked them for their earlier contributions, which she said had helped organize rallies in Tbilisi and the regions. She was asking for additional support to help the party plan its activities in August.
This move by authorities is reminiscent of a similar action taken in March, when several fundraising initiatives that supported protesters were frozen. The Prosecutor’s Office claimed at the time that these funds were being used to finance illegal activities and encourage civil unrest. This has raised concerns among opposition groups that they are being unfairly targeted by the authorities.
**A Message of Resistance**
Khoshtaria has made it clear that she will not cooperate with the authorities on this matter, refusing to pay any fine or appear in court. This is a bold stance against what she sees as an attempt to silence her and her party.
The move has also been widely condemned by opposition groups, who see it as part of a larger pattern of repression by the government. As the country prepares for upcoming elections, this latest development raises concerns about the ability of opposition parties to operate freely in Georgia.
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