“Approximately 400 NGOs registered under the Transparency Law have nothing to hide. However, there are so-called wealthy NGOs that only bring harm to the country,” stated Levan Machavariani, a member of the Georgian Dream (GD) party.

Machavariani criticised these organisations, alleging that they have orchestrated revolutionary scenarios, engaged in political processes, promoted their agendas within society, and have long offended the Georgian church.

“These NGOs, such as Gigauri, Lomjaria, Makarashvili, Pataraia, and others, serve external patrons and only cause damage. The line between them and the collective United National Movement has blurred. Their activities include plotting revolutionary scenarios, meddling in politics, spreading their views to society, and offending the Georgian church. For instance, on Easter, they stood with lit candles, prayed, and simultaneously insulted the Patriarch,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, six non-governmental organisations issued a joint statement affirming they would not register as ‘agents’ but would continue their work to support the Georgian people.

“We will not abandon the Georgian people. We will fight until Georgia becomes a free, democratic, and EU member state that the Georgian people deserve,” the statement declared.

The signatories of the statement are: Civil Society Fund, Sapari, Transparency International – Georgia, Media Development Foundation, International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED) and Social Justice Centre.