Georgia

Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

In 2023, parliamentary discussions on the draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence” commenced in Georgia. From the outset of the legislative process, the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia (PDO) has strongly criticised the bill, underlining major incompatibilities with international human rights and democratic standards. In this vein, the PDO issued a public statement in 2023 expressing concerns.

After the draft law was initially withdrawn due to major mobilisation by civil society and criticism by international stakeholders, the government launched a large-scale crackdown on protests and a denigratory campaign against civil society organisations (CSOs) and human rights defenders (HRDs).

In 2024, the parliamentary majority reintroduced the aforementioned draft law on “Transparency of Foreign Influence”, and the bill was finally adopted later that year.

In its 2022-2024 parliamentary reports, the PDO maintained that such legislation contradicts fundamental principles of a democratic society and damages civil society and HRDs, as it aim to undermine public trust in them.

The law’s adoption in 2024 was shortly followed by a Ministerial order, that obliged CSOs to register as the entities “pursuing the interests of foreign power.” The NHRI determined that the requirements of the order were unjustified and detrimental as the large-scale
publication of individuals’ personal data further exacerbated the law’s restrictive and stigmatising impact on individuals employed by the affected organisations.

Consequently, the PDO submitted a recommendation to the Ministry of Justice, requesting personal data not to be subject to disclosure. The PDO’s recommendation was partially accepted and implemented. Although names and surnames remain publicly accessible, even this partial implementation has significantly mitigated the negative impact of the regulation on the protection of personal data.

At present, the draft law is being challenged before the Constitutional Court of Georgia, and the Public Defender has submitted an amicus curiae brief in the ongoing proceedings.

Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

The Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia (PDO) supports the protection of human rights defenders (HRDs) through amicus curiae briefs submitted to national courts, including in follow-up to complaints filed by HRDs and civil society organisations (CSOs).

For example, in July 2025, the Public Defender submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Tbilisi Court of Appeals following the complaint of a CSO. The organisation contested a City Court ruling that upheld the Anti-Corruption Bureau’s request to compel disclosure of sensitive information. At least six similar motions against CSOs had been granted by June 2025. The PDO raised concerns about state interference in freedom of association, the protection of HRDs’ activities, and the rights of vulnerable groups, such as minors, persons with disabilities, and victims of violence, highlighting privacy and child rights considerations. The submission also warned of a growing trend of Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) and outlined tools for courts to recognise and address them effectively.

Further, in August 2025, the PDO submitted another amicus curiae brief on a City Court ruling concerning HRDs charged with violating the law due to road blockages during a public demonstration. From November 2024 to June 2025, the Tbilisi City Court reviewed over a thousand of administrative cases under Article 174 of the Code of Administrative Offenses, covering violations in organising or holding assemblies. The PDO stressed that courts must carefully balance the scope of the right to freedom of assembly, the lawful limits on restrictions, and the responsibilities of law enforcement in policing assemblies.

Both submissions aim to guide the judiciary in applying consistent human rights standards in cases with similar circumstances.

Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

In the absence of a legal definition of human rights defenders (HRDs), the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia (PDO) developed an internal guide to address issues relating to them. The document provides an overview of the role of the NHRI in defending HRDs and refers to international standards and commitments.

It also outlines the activities carried out by the PDO, including proactive monitoring of media, as well as active engagement with local NGOs and activists. These activities are crucial to enable the PDO to properly identify human rights violations against HRDs. Other activities include developing relevant recommendations and proposals, performing the role of amicus curiae, collecting data, and undertaking other public initiatives in support of HRDs.

Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

In October 2020, the Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia organised an online meeting titled “Human Rights Defenders and the Challenges Faced by Them.” At the event, the NHRI presented an internal “Guide to Working on Issues relating to Human Rights Defenders.” The guide explains the concept of human rights defenders and outlines how the Georgian NHRI protects and promotes their rights (in reference to international practices and standards). The Guide is available in Georgian and English.

Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

The Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia has drawn attention to the challenges and threats faced by human rights defenders and civil society in both Europe and Georgia. The Public Defender dedicated a chapter to this topic in the 2018, 2019 and 2020 annual reports it submitted to parliament. The reports underlined an increasing trend of verbal abuse, physical assaults, intimidation, and defamation, including by high-ranking political officials. Specifically, the reports pointed to challenges faced by women and LGBTI+ defenders and voiced concerns about cyber threats against and the bullying of human rights defenders. The reports analysed the rights of peaceful assembly, association and expression, as well as media freedom. The NHRI called on law enforcement agencies to undertake effective, timely investigations into any cases of human rights defenders at risk. It also provided recommendations to the government on the promotion and protection of human rights defenders.

Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

A human rights activist from an area outside of state control faced physical danger and criminal charges while being imprisoned due to her human rights work. The Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia challenged her detention and harassment as illegal, calling for a fair investigation and issuing several public statements calling on authorities to ensure her safety. The NHRI also raised international and regional attention of the case and nominated the defender for the Václav Havel Human Rights Prize and the UN Human Rights Prize.

Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

The Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia submitted an amicus curiae brief to the Batumi City Court regarding the internal and social media code of conduct of Adjara TV. The code restricted the freedom of expression of company employees. The NHRI analysed the cases of four employees and established that their dismissal or move to another position contravened Georgia’s Labour Code and Adjara TV’s internal labour regulations. The Public Defender recommended that the Adjara TV director restore the rights of the employees. As this was not done, the NHRI asked the Prosecutor General to launch an investigation. The Public Defender also contacted both the UN Special Rapporteur on the Promotion and Protection of the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media in relation to the case.