Statement of Ukrainian non-governmental organizations on the threat to democracy and human rights in Georgia

We, the representatives of Ukrainian society and independent civil society organizations, are watching with pain the events in Georgia that have erupted as a result of the current government's persistent efforts to pass a law on "foreign agents" in the Georgian parliament.

The law "On Transparency of Foreign Influence" adopted by the Georgian parliament in the first reading on April 17, which has disturbing similarities to the Kremlin's law on foreign agents, has already brought tens of thousands of protesters to the Georgian streets. Voting for this law in the second reading on May 1 further sparked public outcry. During this time, security forces used brutal force against the protesters, mass arrests began, and many activists were imprisoned.

The next stage of voting (the third reading) is due to take place in the coming weeks. This law is being lobbied in Georgia by the largest party in the Georgian parliament, Georgian Dream, whose leader is already threatening to override the presidential veto if the law is not signed by the president. Georgia is facing the threat of the establishment of a dictatorship and the dismantling of the country's European integration course, as such a law, which has much in common with Russian approaches, contradicts the principles and norms of European law and the democratic world.

As the events in Georgia unfold unpredictably and may become even more dramatic, we call on the international community, organizations, and governments to stand firmly in defense of Georgian sovereignty and human rights, which are being abused by the current Georgian authorities. Ukrainians do not need to be told who the main beneficiary of these events is — it is the Putin regime, which acted in a similar scenario in Ukraine.

We express our full solidarity with the Georgian people in their honest struggle against the intentions to swallow up a free Georgia with an authoritarian copy of the "Russian world."

You can sign the statement by this link.