Backlash Against Anti-Corruption Bureau's Decision to Label CSOs as Political Actors
By Liza Mchedlidze
Wednesday, September 25, 2024
The Anti-Corruption Bureau's decision to classify two civil society organizations (CSOs) involved in get-out-the-vote campaigns as "political actors" has sparked strong opposition from civil society groups and political critics. The ruling imposes regulations typically applied to political parties, which many argue is an overreach and a tactic used by the ruling party to suppress dissent.
Nona Kurdovanidze, head of the Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA), expressed her discontent, stating on Facebook: "Instead of the rapid activation of Russian law, the mechanism of the [Anti-Corruption] Bureau has been activated to restrict the activities of organizations and freedom of expression." Kurdovanidze stressed that the Bureau's decision is beyond the scope of the law, which mandates the monitoring of political parties, not CSOs, which are not designed to seek political power through elections.
Transparency International Georgia (TI-Georgia), one of the CSOs affected, called the decision "legally unfounded." They emphasized their commitment to Georgia's European future and clarified that their operations are conducted within the boundaries of the Georgian Constitution.
In a joint statement, GYLA and the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) labeled the Bureau's decision as "illegal," warning that it sets a dangerous precedent that could lead to the use of laws to disproportionately limit freedom of speech and expression.
Nana Makharadze, co-founder of the public movement Vote for Europe, which unites CSOs mobilizing pro-Western voters, commented, "Today we are in a situation where we must really choose on which side Georgia will stand, and I am sure that Georgia will stand on the side of civilized countries." She reiterated that the platform does not endorse any specific political party but aims to promote Georgia's European future. "Georgia chooses Europe, the European future, and that is how it will be," she added.
