Bank accounts of several NGOs in Georgia frozen amid ongoing investigation

The Georgian Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday announced that, as part of an ongoing investigation, the Tbilisi City Court approved the freezing of bank accounts belonging to several domestic non-governmental organisations.

According to the statement, the measure was taken within the framework of an investigation into acts of sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravated circumstances, assistance to foreign or foreign-controlled organisations in hostile activities, and the mobilization of funds for actions directed against Georgia’s constitutional order and national security.

The Prosecutor’s Office reported that in 2024, protests held in front of Parliament and across the country escalated into violence, exceeding the lawful framework. Opposition party leaders and certain NGO representatives called for mass disobedience and nationwide resistance, which led to organized confrontations with police forces.

The clashes resulted in dozens of law enforcement officers being injured, while protesters reportedly used pyrotechnics, flammable substances, and so-called Molotov cocktails. Violent groups also set fire to the Parliament building, police equipment, and damaged both state and private property on Rustaveli Avenue.

Investigators claim that protest participants were equipped with gas masks, helmets, masks, face coverings, goggles, batons, and pepper spray - funded, in part, by targeted finances from NGOs.

The organisations named in the investigation include the Civil Society Foundation, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Defenders of Democracy, Georgian Democratic Initiative (GDI), Sapari, and the Social Justice Center.

Authorities further allege that NGO leaders openly encouraged civil disobedience, while their organizational and financial resources were used to cover fines, legal defense, and other expenses for participants in violent actions.

The Prosecutor’s Office argues that these activities went beyond the statutory missions of the organizations and amounted to direct financial support of unlawful acts.

As a result, the court ordered the freezing of the organizations’ accounts to prevent further misuse of funds.

The Prosecutor’s Office stated that updates on the investigation’s progress and outcomes will be periodically provided to the public.