Civic IDEA stands firm in the face of politically motivated attacks. Forum 2000 and ICDR have issued a statement condemning the pressure on our organization and its Chair, Tinatin Khidasheli.
“Tinatin Khidasheli, Chair of Civic IDEA and a Georgian member of the International Coalition for Democratic Renewal (ICDR), is facing increasing domestic pressure for her international advocacy in support of a democratic Georgia. On September 10, Ms. Khidasheli testified in front of the U.S. Helsinki Commission, warning against Georgia’s drift towards authoritarianism and advocated for more targeted U.S. aid to support its civil society, for deeper security cooperation between the two states, and for accountability and sanctions against corrupt officials (particularly in relation to the Middle Corridor). The following day, on the order of its Director–Razhden Kuprashvili–the Anti-Corruption Bureau in Georgia launched an investigation into Civic IDEA with regards to the “Law of Georgia on Grants,” demanding exhaustive information about all received support, project files, and narrative and financial reports. Ms. Khidasheli is simultaneously subject to a smear campaign by the Georgian Dream government, accused of being a U.S. or Taiwanese agent and spy. Forum 2000 and the ICDR strongly condemn such conduct against one of its members and stand in full solidarity with Ms. Khidasheli and Civic IDEA, as well as other Georgian CSOs subject to similar disproportionate and politically motivated pressure.”
