The funds, used to assist citizens fined or injured during the ongoing pro-European protests, were frozen as part of a ‘sabotage’ investigation that started on February 8. These foundations offered financial support to protesters arrested and currently imprisoned, as well as their families. Additionally, they helped individuals facing heavy fines due to draconian amendments to various laws regulating protest activities.
New tactic: Freezing accounts of foundations that support victims of police violence during protests
On March 17, the Georgian Prosecutor's Office announced the seizure of organisations as part of an ongoing investigation. These include: the Nanuka Foundation; the Prosperity Foundation; the foundation for Each Other 24/7; Sirtskhvilia Foundation; and the Tbilisi Human Rights House. The Prosecutor's Office claims that protests and marches opposing the government’s policies, are being fueled by these foundations. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the organisations have spent over 2,000,000 GEL (approximately 658,000 EUR) since December 2024, directing the majority of their financial resources towards encouraging individuals to commit illegal and criminal acts, as well as purchasing the equipment and means necessary to carry out these crimes.
It is important to note that the government recently criminalised many activities that fall under the constitutional right to peaceful assembly. For months, protesters have suffered violent dispersals by the police. Participation in protests that were previously dispersed is now classified as an offense. Amendments to the Criminal Code also introduced the extremely vague punishable offence of "intentional disruption of public order during assemblies", granting law enforcement broader authority to detain individuals suspected of participating in protests. Such criminalisation of protest activities is a serious violation of human rights, and the ongoing financial restrictions make it even more alarming.
It is noteworthy that the basis for the investigation was an appeal by 'United Neutral Georgia,' a group loyal to the 'Georgian Dream,' which, argued the protests pose a threat to the country’s constitutional order and security. Its leader, Vato Shakarishvili, told RFE/RL’s Georgian Service that they had observed “the trace of agents” in the funds’ activities. Notably, the same narrative of protests threatening constitutional order has previously been used by the government of Slovakia.
Heavy fines aimed to discourage protesters
The foundations have been supporting the demonstrators since the beginning of the protests, but their support has intensified, particularly after the Georgian Dream's decision to increase the fines for actions that authorities regard as violations.
An example of this is road blocking by protesters if the police believe there were not enough people naturally attending the protest and that the road was artificially obstructed. The fine for this violation, previously 500 GEL (165 EUR), has increased tenfold to 5,000 GEL (1,650 EUR). The average salary in the country, according to the Statistics Service, is only 1,943.4 GEL (640 EUR).
Since the current practice allows the police to determine how many people are needed to legally block a road at a given location, it enables them to exploit these standards to their advantage. The police have fined hundreds of people for this violation, often multiple times. So-called smart cameras, installed by the ruling party in protest areas and equipped with facial recognition, make it easier to issue fines. Covering one’s face to protect yourself from such intrusive surveillance can now lead to fines and even imprisonment. Such protest-related fines have been paid by the foundations, raising funds through crowdfunding. They also provided assistance to elderly and minor relatives of individuals who could not work due to being imprisoned for exercising their right to protest.
The seizure of funds is designed to hinder and ultimately put an end to protests. Representatives of the ruling party might believe that if citizens are forced to pay large fines out of their own pockets, the protests will cease. This seeks to limit the exercise of the right to assemble and demonstrate.
In addition, the freezing of these funds and the initiation of criminal proceedings against these foundations, makes it practically impossible for them to continue operating: this is a severe attack on freedom of association.
Government aims to silence people through economic pressure
The seizure of funds has worsened the situation for citizens who were heavily fined by authorities, leaving them to find the money on their own. Additionally, if these funds can no longer financially support the families of the arrested individuals, including elderly parents and young children, they will face the threat of a dire economic situation. This situation puts citizens at risk of financial hardship and, in an effort to protect themselves, pressures them to cease protesting. According to Nanuka Zhorzholiani from the Nanuka Foundation, she is now forced to stop all forms of assistance she has been providing, including support for young children.
It is expected that the Georgian Dream will continue to take steps that further restrict the exercise of the rights to assembly, expression, and association in the country, as their policy is focused on suppressing protest activity. In this regard, new legislative initiatives are anticipated, which will worsen the current situation, along with the initiation of criminal cases against individual organisations or groups. This massive attack on people’s rights means Georgians need international support more than ever.