The punitive measures taken against Georgian non-governmental organizations, similar to those of the Russian government, confirm that theIvanishvili government’s goal is the complete destruction of dissenting opinions and pro-European groups in Georgia, according to a joint statement by Georgian NGOs and media organizations.

Fifty-three organizations have signed and published a statement expressing full support and solidarity with the Civil Society Foundation, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), Defenders of Democracy, Georgia’s Democratic Initiative (GDI), Safary, and the Social Justice Center due to the freezing of their bank accounts.

“All this is happening at a time when the Ivanishvili government has been given a specific deadline to inform the European Union whether it wishes to maintain visa-free travel for the Georgian people.

Through such actions, the Ivanishvili government once again confirms to the European Union that preserving visa-free travel for Georgia is not in its interests.

Declaring the activities of Georgian NGOs, which protect the interests and rights of the Georgian population, as illegal indicates that one of the goals of the ‘Dream’ government is to leave Georgian citizens without assistance against the state’s punitive actions. By halting the operations of NGOs, thousands of people are left without free legal aid and other services.

Non-governmental and media organizations stand by our colleagues, sharing our common aspiration for a free, just, and democratic Georgia,” the statement reads.

The statement is signed by the following organizations:

• Prevention for Progress (PFP)
• Civic Movement for Freedom (CMF)
• Transparency International Georgia
• Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
• Georgia Democratic Development Union
• Civic Idea
• Media Development Foundation (MDF)
• Europe Foundation
• European Orbit of Georgia
• Academy for Georgia’s Future
• Rights Georgia
• Media Ombudsman
• Partnership for Human Rights (PHR)
• Tbilisi Pride
• Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association
• Democracy Research Institute (DRI)
• Soviet Past Research Laboratory (SovLab)
• EuroClub Kvareli
• Studio Monitor
• Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI)
• European-Georgian Institute (EGI)
• Online Publication Publika
• Georgia’s Reforms Associates (GRASS)
• Batumelebi/Netgazeti
• Accentnews
• Media House-South Gate
• Indigo
• iFact
• Environmental Community Organization ECO
• Media April
• Georgia’s Court Watch
• Radio Marneuli
• Free Journalists’ House
• Alliance of Women with Disabilities
• Regional Broadcasters’ Alliance
• Support and Opportunity Development Center
• Association for the Integration and Development of Persons with Disabilities “Hangi”
• Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics
• Eastern European Centre for Multiparty Democracy (EECMD)
• Media Club
• Human Rights Center (HRC)
• Open Space Caucasus
• Youth Organization Changes for Equal Rights
• Batumi Independent Living Center
• Psychosocial and Medical Rehabilitation Center for Torture Victims (GCRT)
• Green Alternative
• Women’s Initiatives Supporting Group
• Human Rights Center
• Democratic Meskhs Union
• Toleranti
• Akhaltsikhe Youth Center
• Media Center Kakheti
• Community Development Center