NGO scheme in Georgia: organising protests, arming activists, undermining law

Rich non-governmental organisations in Georgia have come under heavy scrutiny after revelations that they supplied protest participants with gas masks, pepper spray, and other materials intended for violent acts.

Reports indicate that these NGOs not only equipped demonstrators for clashes with police but also covered their fines, ensuring that offenders faced no real obstacles to continuing their unlawful activities.

According to information obtained by Imedi TV, both the Georgian Democratic Initiative and the Nanuka Foundation have been directly involved in funding penalties for radical activists. Case files reveal that the Georgian Democratic Initiative, chaired by Eduard Marikashvili, spent up to ₾100,000 [$37,116] to support detainees and their families.

Meanwhile, the Nanuka Foundation exceeded ₾300,000 [$111,349] in payments under the guise of charity, effectively encouraging further violence by covering administrative fines and transferring funds to convicted individuals and their families.

These examples demonstrate only part of a broader scheme involving nearly all major NGOs and so-called charitable foundations. Beyond organising violent demonstrations, these organizations systematically provided protesters with protective gear designed to counter police measures, while also financing offenders in order to shield them from lawful punishment.

This strategy not only undermined state authority but actively incentivised repeat violence.