In a move that has raised alarm among international observers and civil society advocates, Georgian authorities have escalated their campaign against non-governmental organizations (NGOs), targeting some of the country’s most prominent voices for transparency, democracy, and human rights. The latest development has seen Eka Gigauri, the respected director of Transparency International Georgia (TI Georgia), summoned for questioning under charges of “sabotage” and collusion with foreign actors-accusations that critics say are politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent.

The government’s actions mark a troubling escalation in its long-running tensions with NGOs and watchdogs. Over the past several years, civil society groups in Georgia have been crucial in exposing corruption, monitoring elections, and pressing for greater democratic accountability. These activities, however, have increasingly drawn the ire of a government that appears determined to tighten control over public discourse.

In late August, a Tbilisi court authorized prosecutors to freeze the bank accounts of seven major NGOs, including TI Georgia. The freeze paralyzed their operations and cut off vital funding, leaving them unable to pay staff or carry out projects. Authorities justified the move by alleging that the organizations were involved in “sabotage” related to the 2024 anti-government protests, claiming that some NGOs had purchased equipment later used in confrontations with police.

For many in Georgia’s civil society, the accusations are both absurd and dangerous. “Critical pro-US and pro-EU voices, human rights, corruption investigations, election monitoring are a problem for the government, which is why they........

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