Civil society, an essential pillar for stability and democracy in the EaP region: CSO Meter Regional Report 2024

• Release political prisoners and terminate all politically-motivated criminal cases and investigations against CSO activists, journalists, and human rights defenders.
• Repeal all discriminatory and stigmatising legislation restricting the freedoms of expression and association for CSOs, media representatives, and vulnerable groups.
• Stop the forced termination of CSOs in Belarus.  

• Provide emergency funding for CSOs working on strengthening and promoting democracy, monitoring and advocating for freedoms, rights and supportive environments.  
• Simplify operational and reporting requirements (remove any co-funding requirements and increase the ceiling for indirect costs) and support the groups experiencing the biggest challenges (for instance, those working in exile).  
• Where possible, support organisations and states to invest in philanthropy infrastructure and resource mobilisation.  
• Support organisations and institutions to work with banks and other financial institutions (for instance, the European Banking Authority) to limit de-risking and ensure that AML/CTF rules do not impact the work of CSOs.  
• Ensure financial support for CSOs by preparing to identify new threats and taking action to promote an enabling environment.
• Ensure long-term financial support and core funding to safeguard an enabling environment for civil society through monitoring and advocacy in the EaP region under the new Multiannual Financial Framework.

• Devise sustainable mechanisms for partnership with civil society in the region to deliver the goals of the EU (security, prosperity, tackling interference).  
• Sustain support for an enabling environment for civil society and facilitate dialogue between state authorities, CSOs and other stakeholders depending on the key priorities in a country (identified via the evidence provided in the CSO Meter country reports).
• Support EU-wide solidarity building for civil society in the EaP region and ensure knowledge exchange. 

Civil society in Georgia, Azerbaijan and Belarus has been severely impacted with over 331 individuals detained for political reasons in Azerbaijan and according to human rights defenders, at least 1,317 people behind bars in Belarus by the end of 2024.

The governments continued targeting opposition groups, activists, and critical media. In Azerbaijan, despite laws permitting peaceful gatherings, organisers face arbitrary denials and harsh penalties. Similarly, in Belarus, violent crackdowns on protests resulted in criminalisation of dissent, creating widespread fear. In Georgia, the government’s violent response to protests against restrictive laws, election results and halting the EU integration process led to unprecedented police violence and arrests. In Belarus and Azerbaijan, the number of CSOs and activists in exile has significantly increased over the years and this trend is expected to appear in Georgia.  

Recent restrictive laws impose heavy compliance burdens and penalties on organisations, primarily targeting democracy and human rights CSOs. 

Georgia adopted the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, signalling a closing space for civil society, and growing violations of freedoms and human rights. In Ukraine, a new Law on Lobbying was adopted, which fails to distinguish between commercial lobbying activities and genuine citizen participation – this raises concerns that it could undermine advocacy for policy change. In parallel, the proposed EU proposed Directive on Transparency of Interest Representation has already been cited in the region to justify adopting restrictive measures against civil society. 

There is a growing trend of using legal pressure, harassment and stigmatising narratives to suppress activism and marginalise vulnerable communities, especially organisations focusing on justice and inclusion. Legislation restricting foreign funding to civil society is often followed by anti-LGBTQ+ laws (as seen in Russia, Hungary, Slovakia and Bulgaria). Georgia restricted LGBTQ+ rights through a law banning same-sex marriage, LGBTQ+ content and LGBTQ+ assemblies. Hate speech targeting LGBTQ+ individuals remains widespread in Belarus and Georgia, often amplified by state-aligned media. In Belarus, law enforcement authorities have carried out forced outings of LGBTQ+ persons as part of ongoing political repression. While in Moldova the authorities provided security for Pride events, in Armenia, debates on anti-discrimination laws excluded specific protections for sexual orientation and gender identity.  

In parallel, environmental groups are also under increased attack. Strategic litigation against public participation (SLAPPs), harassment, and smear campaigns continue to target environmental activists, such as those opposing Armenia’s Amulsar gold mining project, with little protection offered by law enforcement. In Moldova, 70 per cent of media-related cases brought before the Supreme Court between 2019 and 2023 were likely SLAPPs, with an even greater number in the lower courts, aimed at silencing critical voices.  

The situation is particularly alarming in Belarus, where restrictions on both domestic and international funding, coupled with government scrutiny and the risk of legal repercussions for their activities, have led to the closure or exiled work of numerous organisations. Azerbaijan faces similar challenges, with rigorous registration requirements for foreign funding that create substantial barriers to financial support, and similar barriers are expected to emerge in Georgia. Funding freezes, the dismantling of USAID, and Georgia’s paused EU accession process exacerbates these difficulties, leading to immediate consequences, such as project cancellations. Even in countries with supportive laws, as Armenia and Moldova, many organisations find it challenging to pivot toward alternative sources of funding, as the infrastructure to develop and use them needs further investment. 

Serious human rights violations resulted in diplomatic strains on the relationships with Belarus, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Namely, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (CoE) declined to ratify the credentials of Azerbaijan’s parliamentary delegation. Since then, the authorities have refused to cooperate with CoE institutions and monitoring mechanisms. Belarus is facing significant diplomatic and economic sanctions imposed by Western countries and organisations. Additionally, Georgia’s paused dialogue with the EU has raised alarms about the future trajectory of the country.