The Tbilisi City Court has granted the Prosecutor's Office's motion to seize the bank accounts of the Civil Society Foundation, the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, the Defenders of Democracy, the Georgian Democratic Initiative, the Safari, and the Social Justice Center. The Prosecutor's Office of Georgia has issued a corresponding statement.

The case concerns an investigation ongoing in the Prosecutor's Office of Georgia into the facts of sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assistance to a foreign organization or an organization under foreign control in hostile activities, and mobilization of funds for activities directed against the constitutional order and foundations of national security of Georgia.

“The Tbilisi City Court has granted the Prosecutor’s Office’s motion to seize the bank accounts of certain non-governmental organizations within the framework of the investigation ongoing in the Prosecutor’s Office of Georgia into the facts of sabotage, attempted sabotage under aggravating circumstances, assistance to a foreign organization and an organization under foreign control in hostile activities, and mobilization of funds for activities directed against the constitutional order and foundations of national security of Georgia.

The investigation established that during 2024, protests were held in front of the Parliament of Georgia and at various locations throughout the country, which took on a violent character in a short period of time and went beyond the limits established by law. In parallel with the ongoing protest rallies, calls by leaders of opposition parties and heads of certain non-governmental organizations for mass disobedience and general resistance gradually turned the protests into confrontations with the police forces, which were of a deliberate nature. As a result, violent groups injured dozens of law enforcement officers, and used pyrotechnics, flammable and incendiary substances, including the so-called "Molotov cocktails". Violent groups set fire to the parliament building, significantly damaging the legislative body. They also set fire to special police equipment and destroyed state and private property on Rustaveli Avenue.

In order to effectively carry out violent actions against law enforcement officers, individual participants in the violent demonstration were equipped with special gas masks, helmets, face masks, protective glasses, batons and other means during their confrontation with the police. Also, the use of pepper spray and other similar means against police officers by the participants of the demonstration was repeatedly recorded.

The investigation established that the equipping of the participants of the demonstration carrying out violent actions against law enforcement officers with special means was carried out in a coordinated manner, including with the funds of non-governmental organizations. In particular, the targeted funds of the Civil Society Foundation, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy, Institute for Development of Freedom of Information, Defenders of Democracy, Georgian Democratic Initiative, Safari, and Social Justice Center were used to purchase equipment such as special gas masks, protective goggles, face shields, face masks, pepper spray, and other means that were actively used by the protesters during violent confrontations with the police.

The leaders of the aforementioned organizations openly called on the public to disobey and resist, while their organizational and financial activities were fully directed at providing financial protection to individuals involved in violent acts and their family members. Fines were paid in favor of lawbreakers, protection costs were provided, and other personal and organizational issues were resolved. The purpose of the actions taken was, on the one hand, to encourage individuals involved in illegal acts, and, on the other hand, to protect individuals involved in these acts. Ultimately, the coordinated action was to weaken law enforcement agencies and disrupt their normal functioning.

Since the activities of the mentioned non-governmental organizations went beyond the goals defined by their own charters and a significant part of the funds received were used to finance illegal activities, based on the court ruling, on August 27, the bank accounts of the mentioned organizations were frozen, thus restricting further misuse of funds.

We will periodically provide the public with information about the progress and results of the investigation,” the Prosecutor’s Office said in a statement.