**British Embassy Cancels Grants for Georgia’s Local Elections Amid “Uncertainty”**
The British Embassy in Tbilisi has canceled planned grants aimed at supporting transparency and competitiveness in Georgia’s upcoming local elections. The decision comes amid a recent amended law that requires foreign donors to obtain government approval before disbursing grants to local groups.
According to the Embassy, they sought approval for several grants to Georgian civil society organizations for voter education and citizen electoral monitoring. However, after discussing with authorities, the Embassy was told that no mechanism or timeframe currently exists for grant approval decisions due to procedural uncertainty.
This move has sparked concerns among opposition parties and civil society organizations in Georgia. The British Embassy’s decision to cancel their grant plans comes amid a crackdown on civil society organizations through the two foreign agents laws and recent amendments to the Law on Grants.
**GD’s Crackdown on Civil Society**
The Georgian Dream (GD) government has been criticized for its efforts to restrict civil society activities in the country. The two foreign agents laws have been widely condemned, while recent amendments to the Law on Grants have made it mandatory for donors to obtain government approval before disbursing grants.
The GD government is now further amending the law to expand the requirement to include “technical assistance” and “knowledge-sharing” under the definition of grants. This move has raised concerns that even legitimate activities, such as training and research, may be subject to government oversight.
**OSCE/ODIHR Monitoring Mission**
The British Embassy also expressed regret that the GD government has not yet invited an OSCE/ODIHR monitoring mission, unlike the last municipal elections in Georgia. The statement notes that the absence of professionally trained election monitors working to internationally accepted standards would represent a backwards step that could reduce public confidence in the transparency of the democratic process in Georgia.
**Upcoming Local Elections**
The opposition remains split between participation and boycott in the upcoming local elections slated for October 4, while Georgian Dream is certain to win all municipalities. The cancellation of the British Embassy’s grant plans has added to the concerns surrounding these elections.
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