The U.S. Senate condemned the recognition of two Georgian NGOs as entities with electoral purposes

The US Senate is concerned about the decision of the Georgian authorities to recognize Transparency International Georgia (TI) and Choose Europe as organizations with electoral purposes. The corresponding statement of Senators Jim Risch, Ben Cardin, Gene Shaheen and Pete Ricketts was published on the website of the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

“We are concerned about the decision by the Georgia Anti-Corruption Bureau to designate Transparency International Georgia and Choose Europe as organizations with a 'declared electoral purpose.' These NGOs are actively engaged in preparing missions to monitor the upcoming elections in Georgia, but are not involved in the electoral struggle. They support democracy regardless of who people vote for,” the statement said.

According to the senators, TI Director Eka Gigauri is being persecuted for her speech at a hearing in the upper chamber of the U.S. Congress on September 12. It discussed “anti-NGO laws and other instruments of repression targeting democracy” in Georgia.

“The announcement of her prosecution confirms that autocratic governments abuse laws to penalize independent voices,” the appeal said.

On September 24, the Anti-Corruption Bureau of Georgia declared the non-governmental organization TI and the public movement “Choose Europe”. “entities with a stated electoral purpose.” With the court's authorization, they were subjected to all the same restrictions as political parties. The office gave the organizations a few days to report on the expenditures “related to their electoral purposes”.

The grounds were meetings with citizens and information campaigns conducted by the organizations before the elections. The anti-corruption bureau did not like the fact that they urged citizens to make a European choice. It is alleged that at the same time they make anti-government statements.

TI is the largest Georgian NGO that deals with corruption in government. It has remained the subject of criticism by the ruling Georgian Dream for years. There, it claims that TI is “commissioned from outside” to work to overthrow the government.

The “Choose Europe” movement appeared recently, in July. Its goal is called the defense of the European future. Since its creation, representatives of the organization have announced a campaign to mobilize pro-Western voters.

Both organizations are preparing observers for the upcoming parliamentary elections.

Reprinted from https://www.newsgeorgia.ge/