Georgia’s civil society faces crisis after NGO restrictions
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In Georgia, organizations dedicated to public service are struggling as the government imposes new restrictions on their funding and activities.
Three years ago, the government began enacting laws requiring groups receiving foreign funding to register as “foreign agents” and submit to government oversight. These rules expanded in 2024 and 2026, leading to a financial and resource crisis for many civil society organizations.
The Social Justice Centre (SJC), a human rights organization, now operates largely on volunteer work after its bank accounts were frozen, limiting its ability to provide legal aid and conduct research. Similarly, Partnership for Human Rights (PHR), which advocates for children and people with disabilities, has seen staff reductions and a reluctance from partners to publicly collaborate.
Some groups, like Green Alternative, an environmental organization founded in 2000, have closed entirely, while others continue operating with reduced capacity and volunteer support. These changes impact vulnerable populations who rely on these organizations for assistance. Tamta Mikeladze, director of the SJC, notes that those with the fewest economic and political resources, workers, low-income families, and marginalized groups, suffer the most when civil society weakens.
Despite the challenges, some activists are adapting by forming new, grassroots networks, though they acknowledge volunteer work cannot replace stable funding and institutional support.
