Georgian authorities have intensified their crackdown on civil society, summoning Transparency International Georgia’s head, Eka Gigauri, and other NGO leaders for questioning on charges of state “sabotage.”
The global civil society organization leading the fight against corruption condemned what it called “unfounded charges” against Gigauri. According to its statement, authorities in Tbilisi questioned her as part of a probe into alleged crimes against the state, including “sabotage, collusion with foreign powers, and financial crimes.” Transparency International warned the investigation could lead to politically motivated prosecutions.
In written comments to OCCRP, Gigauri—who is facing up to 15 years in prison—said that other influential civil society leaders are also being targeted, including the heads of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, Guardians of Democracy, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, the women’s rights group Sapari, and the Social Justice Center, who were reportedly questioned in early September.
“Critical pro-US and pro-EU voices, human rights, corruption investigations, election monitoring are a problem for the government, which is why they decided to get rid of everyone who is engaged in these activities,” Gigauri told OCCRP.
The questioning appears linked to an investigation into NGO finances. In late August, a Tbilisi court authorized prosecutors to freeze the bank accounts of seven groups, including those later summoned. At the time, the Prosecutor’s Office accused the NGOs of “sabotage” in connection with anti-government protests in 2024, alleging they had purchased equipment for demonstrators used in clashes with police.
Representatives of several of the NGOs have previously called the allegations baseless and intended to silence their work. Transparency International also said the accusations are aimed at stifling its anti-corruption efforts. “There is a real risk that interrogations will soon be followed by politically motivated prosecutions of civil society leaders, including Eka Gigauri,” the organization said.
Gigauri also told OCCRP that Transparency International Georgia is currently subject to “repressive monitoring procedures” under “anti-NGO laws.” “The organization is already unable to receive new funding due to these restrictive laws, which means that it cannot continue to operate,” she said.
