Georgian Dream's aggressive campaign against local non-governmental organizations has reached an alarming level, 20 non-governmental organizations say in a statement.

According to them, "the attack on civil organizations by Georgia­n Dream has the goal of neutralize public control over the activities of the government, which is another clear manifestation of authoritarianism and indicates the irreversible trend of its formation."

"After Georgia­n Dream blocked the participation of the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISF­ED) in the working group created by it to fulfill the 12 points defined for Georgia to obtain the status of a candidate for EU membership, which was followed by the suspension of work in the groups by other non-governmental organizations, the ruling party attacked the civil sector. Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of Georgia­n Dream, attacking the competence and integrity of non-governmental organizations, classifying them and creating a black list of non-governmental organizations unacceptable to the government due to their position on European integration, which is the most important for the country's national interests, is nothing more than an attempt by Georgia­n Dream to neutralize public control over the activities of the government, and in this way, to facilitate the implementation of its own agenda.

It is noteworthy that the ruling party attacks those individuals and organizations that actively monitor the activities of the government, criticize the current dangerous policies, call on the government to review its agenda and start taking real steps towards the development of the country in the direction of European integration.

We believe that Georgia­n Dream is aware of the outcome, however, with similar rhetoric and steps, it is purposefully trying to break all the levers that Georgia needs for its democratic development. It is such decisions and statements that make the future of democratic development of Georgia unclear every day, both in the eyes of the national and international community, which is fully the responsibility of Georgia­n Dream," reads the statement.

The statement is signed by: "Georgian Democratic Initiative" (G­D­­­I); "Georgia Court Watch"; "Transparency International Georgia" (TI); "Georgian Open Society Foundation" (OSGF); "Guardians of Democracy"; "Media Development Fund"; "Economic Policy Research Center" (EPRC); "European-Georgian Institute"; "Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies" (Rondeli Foundation); "Georgian Institute of Politics" (GIP); "Atlantic Council of Georgia"; "Georgian Reforms Association" (GRASS); "Tolerance and Diversity Institute" (TDI); "Rights Georgia"; "Women for a Common Future (WECF) - Georgia"; "Safari"; "Regional Network of Civil Activists"; "Caucasian Institute for Peace, Democracy and Development" (CIPDD); "Human Rights Center"; "Group of independent lawyers".

source: IPN