On April 29, Georgia’s Prosecutor General’s Office conducted coordinated home searches targeting civil society figures and organisations accused of financially supporting anti-government, pro-European Union protests. The searches, based on court-issued warrants, were carried out at the homes of prominent figures involved in civil society and activism, including journalist Nanuka Zhorzholiani and human rights defender Aleko Tskitishvili. Prosecutors are pursuing the case under Articles 318 and 319 of the Criminal Code, recently amended under a new treason law introduced by the ruling Georgian Dream party.
The raids are part of a broader investigation launched earlier this year on charges of sabotage and assisting hostile foreign activity, as defined by Georgian Dream. The investigation began following a complaint by United Neutral Georgia, a pro-government group, and on March 17, authorities froze the bank accounts of several organisations and foundations that had been providing financial support to protesters and their families. The Prosecutor’s Office has stated that the investigations launched on April 29 include a review of financial activities linked to recent protests.
During the April 29 searches, Zhorzholiani, who was home with her children, was not allowed to wait for her lawyers. She briefly livestreamed the events before her phone was confiscated. Tskitishvili was searched in public and had his personal devices seized. Authorities also searched an apartment registered to Zhorzholiani’s daughter.
Various Georgian media outlets report that hundreds of fines have been issued and more than 50 criminal cases opened. Civil society organisations have expressed concern over the scope and purpose of the legal measures. Meanwhile, documents are circulating online among activist networks, offering guidance on how to reset electronic devices and delete potentially compromising content in the event of a search.