UN Expert Highlights Intensifying Repression Against Human Rights Defenders in Georgia

The repression intensified with the adoption of the controversial Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, enacted on 28 May 2024 despite mass protests.

UN Special Rapporteur on human rights defenders, Mary Lawlor, has raised alarm over escalating repression faced by human rights defenders in Georgia throughout 2024. Lawlor, who visited the country in late 2023, expressed concern that the situation has worsened significantly since then.

The repression intensified with the adoption of the controversial Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence, enacted on 28 May 2024 despite mass protests. The law, which came into force on 1 August 2024, has been criticized for violating international human rights obligations, particularly concerning freedom of association and expression. Human rights defenders have been subjected to physical attacks, threats, and smear campaigns, with some assaults appearing to be encouraged by public statements from government officials.

Lawlor cited the brutal assault of Zuka Berdzenishvili, a pro-democracy activist, following accusations of terrorism by the Speaker of the Georgian Parliament. She emphasized the dangerous trend of officials smearing activists as "enemies of the people," which, in her view, legitimizes violence against them.

The Special Rapporteur urged the Georgian government to reverse course and consider implementing recommendations from her report to the Human Rights Council. She remains in contact with authorities and expressed her willingness to continue supporting efforts to improve the situation for human rights defenders in the country.

Lawlor, who founded Front Line Defenders in 2001, has extensive experience advocating for at-risk human rights defenders globally.