Civil Society Under Threat: Two Georgian Human Rights Defenders Speak Up

We interviewed two Georgian Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), Tamta Mikeladze, who is leading Social Justice Center, one of the seven organizations affected by the financial freeze and Tamaz Kirtava, the project coordinator of one of the most active and prominent civil society organisations, Georgian Young Lawyer’s Association (GYLA). Together, they share the current situation of civil society in Georgia, the challenges encountered in their continued work towards defending human rights and their aspirations for the future of Georgia.

What motivated you to become a human rights defender?

Tamta Mikeladze: The deeply rooted economic inequalities in my society. I began working in civil society since 2008 and today I am representing Social Justice Centre, a leading, leftist feminist organisation, working to protect and defend the human rights of our citizens. We are driven by an intersectional approach as we work simultaneously across the axes of economic, political, and cultural oppression. We actively engage with economically vulnerable groups (workers, displaced people, internally displaced persons, and communities affected by environmental harm), as well as with ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTI people, and women, to achieve equality through the production of critical knowledge, support for grassroots movements, legal aid, advocacy, and the building of solidarity networks.

Tamaz Kirtava: From a very young age, I have been fascinated by the impactful work of human rights defenders in Georgia. It also became the reason I pursued law; particularly human rights law. Today, I am happy to have the opportunity to work from the perspective of a civil society organisation (CSO) in Georgia, where I am actively involved in monitoring human rights violations, including documenting practice torture with other Georgian CSOs and advocating for accountability and protection of human rights.

What is happening in Georgia and how is it affecting your work?

TM: Under the new “foreign agents” law, any independent organisation receiving more than 20% of its funding from foreign sources is classified under that category. Since most of our funding comes from foreign donors, it is easy for us to fall within its scope.

However, in 2024 the government not only adopted the so-called “foreign agents” law, modeled on the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), but also amended the Law on Grants, creating a hostile, stigmatising, and criminally punitive legal environment for CSOs.

Under these conditions, the authorities initiated three separate proceedings against our organisation. Among them was an inspection under the “foreign agents” law, claiming that our activities might fall within its definition and demanding explanations for why we had not registered under it, including why we had “ignored” the criminal liability provisions contained in the law.

At the same time, under a politically motivated and unsubstantiated investigation based on the “sabotage” article, our bank accounts were frozen, effectively paralysing the organisation’s work. I was also questioned as a witness in this ongoing investigation, which remains open to this day.

TK: The enactment of the FARA has forced NGOs to risk facing up to five years of criminal charges if they fail to comply. These new anti-CSO legislations have affected their ability to acquire new grants, defend human rights, and maintain trust between the communities they serve.

What's the impact of the bank account freezes?

TM: Institutionally, we are destroyed. We are unable to conduct any financial operations or mobilise our resources to support our communities. What is particularly alarming is the speed of repressing civic space in Georgia. In other countries, like Russia, Azerbaijan and Belarus, the shift towards autocratisation and the shrinking of public spaces took years. In Georgia, it has unfolded in just one. This is catastrophic for civil society and democracy.

TK: I believe that the decision is an attempt to intimidate and target CSOs and HRDs. The government is sending the message: anyone who defends dissenting voices or helps protests will be accused of sabotage and face harsh consequences. It also impacts Georgian’s pro-EU aspirations, undermining the country’s democratic principles.

Despite everything, what keeps you going?

TM: The belief that our people deserve a better future. We have struggled to overcome different authoritarian regimes in the past, and we are determined to do it again. Today, we are witnessing how our government is using similar colonial tactics to change the foreign policy of our country, silence dissent, isolate us from our partners and friends, and maintain authoritarian power. However, we are ready to take risks and continue. We are resilient, creative, and flexible and are finding new ways to continue our work and struggle.

TK: I believe it is our shared commitment and loyalty to the values of human dignity. For many in Georgia, defending human rights is not just a job, but a moral duty and a part of their identity. Human rights defenders are not alone in this struggle for a better future and democracy: we have sixty political prisoners in Georgia right now and some people have faced severe human rights violations, yet they continue their fight against the oppressive system.

What can be done?

TM: The international community must intervene now. We need to put strong political and diplomatic pressures on Georgian authorities. It is very important to stand in solidarity and put our country’s human rights crisis into the regional and global agenda. The support from international organisations is critical for us to continue defending human rights.
What gives you hope for the future of civil society?

TM: Our resilience has been profoundly shaped by our historical struggles. We have lived through the darkest period following the collapse of the Soviet Union, a time marked by the absence of state protection and basic resources. Yet, we endured.
Our generation carries the sense that it has already experienced and overcome enough crises to understand both survival and collective recovery. It is now precisely our generation that stands at the forefront of resistance. We are flexible and creative enough to draw strength from adversity and to commit ourselves to preserving democracy.

Moreover, this crisis may ultimately catalyse a deeper process of democratisation, one that compels our society to forge new, conscious forms of social agreements. As the institutional structures of civil society erode, we are challenged to adopt rhizomatic strategies: to re-emerge through networks, ecosystems, and practices of dialogue and struggle formed in new spaces and unconventional formats. In doing so, we may reach into the deeper layers of our social fabric, creating more resilient and interconnected forms of solidarity.

TK: We will continue to work for our future by rethinking, reorganising and reimagining in ways that we have never done before. Our resilience, intention, and flexibility give us the strength to keep fighting for the future we deserve.