Human Rights House Foundation statement
HRC58 – Item 10 – General Debate – Georgia
1 April 2025
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Thank you Vice-President.
We are deeply concerned about the situation in Georgia and welcome the High Commissioner’s update. The recent freezing of the bank accounts of Human Rights House Tbilisi, is the latest attempt to attack legitimate human rights activities.
This action by Georgia came in response to Human Rights House Tbilisi´s crowdfunding efforts to support protestors burdened by draconian fines, which is a completely lawful activity.
In addition, only yesterday, the Georgian Parliament passed into law the “Foreign Agents Registration Act” targeting civil society. The law introduces criminal liability for human rights defenders and their organisations; specifically those who fail to register under a stigmatising label of a “foreign agent” for receiving any foreign funding for their legitimate and lawful human rights work.
The pattern is clear: laws are being adopted and misused to suppress civic space; peaceful protest is met with violence; and there is no accountability with courts rubber-stamping fines and detentions. Over 100 cases of ill-treatment have been reported, including torture.
We call on Georgia to:
- Immediately lift restrictions on Human Rights House Tbilisi and stop the bogus investigation;
- Repeal laws that target civil society, such as the Foreign Agents Registration Act;
- Ensure accountability for violent attacks against defenders and protestors.
We urge the High Commissioner to continue monitoring and reporting on the human rights situation across all of Georgia’s territory.
Thank you.
