Norwegian Ambassador slams Georgian Gov't for "crackdown on opposition"

Norway has issued a warning over what it sees as a growing crackdown on political dissent in Georgia, directly accusing the Georgian authorities of targeting opposition leaders and undermining democratic norms.

In a statement posted on social media, Norwegian Ambassador to Georgia and Armenia, Bergljot Hovland, said the government of Georgia is actively engaged in repressive actions, including the arrest of opposition leaders like Zurab Japaridze and the introduction of laws aimed at banning political parties.

“Norway is deeply concerned by the Georgian authorities’ crackdown on the opposition, including arrests of opposition leaders like Zurab Japaridze, and repressive laws to ban political parties. This assault on democracy is unacceptable. Georgia stands at a troubling crossroads,” the ambassador wrote.

Japaridze, who heads the More Freedom – Girchi party and plays a leading role in the Coalition for Change, was taken into pre-trial detention on May 22, after Judge Irakli Shvangiradze approved a prosecution request to revoke his bail. He had refused to pay the 20,000 GEL bail imposed for not appearing before a parliamentary commission—refusal he described as a principled act of protest.

“This is not about justice — it’s a political case,” Japaridze said in court. “There is no rational reason why I should be imprisoned. If everyone refuses to participate in this lie, this regime will collapse.”

Japaridze faces charges under Article 349 of Georgia’s Criminal Code for disobeying a court order, with a potential sentence of up to one year. His trial is ongoing.

The parliamentary commission at the heart of this case was created by the ruling Georgian Dream party to investigate the United National Movement era. However, local NGOs and Western observers see it as a politicized body used to persecute government critics.