Freedom House slams Georgian Gov't for 'escalating antidemocratic behavior'

Freedom House has issued a public statement expressing concern over what it describes as escalating anti-democratic practices by the Georgian government, warning that recent actions undermine the country’s prospects for European Union integration.

In a post on X on June 30, Freedom House wrote:

“We are deeply concerned by the Georgian government’s continued, escalating anti-democratic behavior, including the jailing of political opposition leaders and ongoing targeting of civil society groups under the country’s newly enacted foreign agents law.
These actions move Georgia further away from the standards necessary for EU integration.
We urge Georgian authorities to respect political pluralism and encourage a vibrant civic space—crucial features of any strong democracy.”

The statement follows recent detentions of opposition figures in Georgia, including politicians Zurab Girchi Japaridze (Girchi – More Freedom), Giorgi Vashadze (Strategy Aghmashenebeli), Badri Japaridze and Mamuka Khazaradze (Lelo), Nika Melia, former MP Givi Targamadze, as well as the detention of Nika Gvaramia (Akhali) and ex-Defence Minister Irakli Okruashvili. Some of these individuals have been sentenced to over seven months in prison and barred from holding public office for two years for refusal to appear before the Parliamentary Investigative Commission, established by the ruling party to look into crimes committed under the previous government.