Stop Persecuting NGO Sector! Stop Killing Civil Activism! We Are Not Political Parties! Distinguish Parties from NGOs! – these are the slogans from the rally held yesterday, by NGOs on February 8 outside the building of the Chamber of Control to protest against the unlawful decision of the Chamber of Control declaring the New Generation New Initiative (nGnI) as an entity related to a party.

NGOs state that the unsubstantiated decision constitutes an action undertaken against the civil activism, jeopardizing the work of NGOs in the country. NGOs state that restrictions that apply to political parties are utilized by the Chamber of Control not only against political activities but also against the realization of civil activism.

NGOs call on the Chamber of Control of Georgia to substantiate the decision and allow for the full participation of the parties in the decision-making process as well as for appealing the decision, whereas the Parliament of Georgia should immediately amend the law on Political Union of Citizens in order to secure guarantees for freedom and inviolability of actions of the civil society.

Attached please find a joint petition of NGOs.

The petition is open for signatures.