We are concerned by the pressure non-governmental organisations have been subjected to in Georgia. Recently, accelerated rate of attacks have been observed against those non-profits, whose work contributes to protecting democratic values, universal freedoms, equality-for-all and European type of management of state.

On May 1st, 2014 Prime-Minister Irakli Gharibashvili accused NGOs party to the civil campaign "Es Shen Gekheba” ("This Concerns You") in "shaking the image of the country” and called their activism as "undermining the state”. This statement served as an impetus for politicians to launch verbal attacks and other disruptive actions against non-governmental organisations.

On January 26, 2015 former Prime-Minister of Georgia, Bidzina Ivanishvili has directly threatened heads of non-governmental organisations, Nino Lomjaria, and Eka Gigauri, as well as, the former head of GYLA, Kakha Kozhoridze and in fact, vowed to soon publish compromising materials against these individuals.

We believe that, Mr. Ivanishvili’s statements do not belong to an individual citizen, but actually constitute the position of an informal ruler of the State. Unsubstantiated accusations voiced by the representatives of the ruling powers constitute a deviation from Georgian Government’s declared values. These statements leave us with the impression that a dedicated campaign is being carried out against civil organisations. Furthermore, not only does this attitude harm democratic values and ideas, to which non-governmental organisations are committed to, but it empowers groups that openly attack these values. This tendency is a matter of an utmost concern, and it deters democratic development of Georgian State.

We call upon the members of the Government and on to other politicians to refrain from applying pressure on non-governmental organisations and other actions directed against CSOs.

1. Civil Development Agency (CiDA)
2. Safari
3. Article 42 of the Constitution
4. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC)
5. Identoba
6. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI)
7. Human Rights Center
8. Open Society Georgia Foundation (OSGF)
9. Georgia's Reforms Associates (GRASS)
10. Tolerance and Diversity Institute (TDI)
11. Media Development Foundation (MDF)
12. Center For The Psychosocial And Medical Rehabilitation of The Victims of Torture (GCRT);
13. United Nations Association of Georgia, UNAG
14. Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI);
15. Frontline Georgia Club
16. Studiamobile – Accent on movement
17. Partnership For Human Rights (PHR);
18. Gender Fairness
19. Nonviolent Communication Institute
20. Human Rights House (HRH)
21. LGBTGeorgia
22. Cooperative house construction Victims Center "Unity"
23. Сivil Integration Foundation
24. Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC)
25. Step – Kharagauli
26. Friendship Bridge – Kartlosi
27. Welfare and Development Center
28. Georgian Democratic Development Union
29. Dusheti Development Foundation
30. Borjgali
31. Akhalkhalaki Youth Center
32. Institute of Democracy
33. New Initiative in Kvemo Kartli
34. Guria Youth Resource Centre
35. Association for Civil Initiatives
36. Indigo
37. Ozurgeti Young Scientists Club
38. Civil Monitoring and Research Centre
39. For Better Future
40. Union of Democrat Meskhs, UDM
41. Association "Tchiaturelta Kavshiri”
42. Stepantsminda
43. Union "Demos”
44. Kutaisi Informational Center
45. Imereti Scientists Union "Spektri "
46. Mtsketa-Mtianeti regional committee of AntiViolence Network of Georgia
47. We for sensible future
48. Georgian Education Alliance
49. Research Center for Human Rights and Social Justice
50. Georgian Regional Radio Network
    
51. Social and Educational Association "Hereti"