ENEMO Condemns Freezing of ISFED Accounts in Georgia
By Liza Mchedlidze
Monday, September 1, 2025
The European Network of Election Monitoring Organizations (ENEMO) has strongly criticized the freezing of bank accounts belonging to the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), one of Georgia's most prominent election watchdog groups.
The action was ordered by a Tbilisi City Court judge at the request of the Prosecutor's Office, according to ENEMO. In a statement, the network said the decision was a deliberate attempt to obstruct independent monitoring ahead of upcoming local government elections. "These actions represent a severe attempt to obstruct the legitimate work of independent election monitors. Such measures threaten the transparency and accountability of the electoral process, and undermine public confidence in Georgia's democratic institutions," the group said.
ENEMO stressed that ISFED has been a cornerstone of election observation in Georgia for decades, providing professional and impartial monitoring to ensure free and fair elections. "Targeting ISFED and other civil society organizations with repressive measures not only undermines their work, but also runs counter to Georgia's constitutional guarantees and its international obligations," the statement continued.
The network underlined the importance of impartial citizen observers, saying that elections cannot be considered credible without them. "Any attempt to restrict their activities directly jeopardizes the integrity of elections and the democratic choice of Georgian citizens," ENEMO said.
Having previously observed elections in Georgia itself, ENEMO emphasized that it has seen first-hand the critical role groups like ISFED play in ensuring transparency. It urged the authorities to immediately reverse the restrictions and to respect both domestic constitutional guarantees and international human rights commitments.
The statement concluded with a message of support: "ENEMO further expresses its full solidarity with ISFED and the Georgian civil sector, commending their continued commitment to transparency and accountability despite the hostile environment caused by the Government of Georgia and ruling party Georgian Dream's actions."
