News
Human Rights Center Statement on Another Disinformation Campaign Against Georgian Civil Society Organizations
17.07.2025
Font size
The Human Rights Center expresses deep concern over, yet another disinformation campaign orchestrated by media outlets supporting “Georgian Dream”, targeting the European Union and Georgian civil society organizations, including the Human Rights Center itself.
On July 9, TV company “Imedi” aired its news program (which was later blocked on social media for spreading false information) and published an article on its website claiming that civil society organizations are being funded by foreign entities with large sums to encourage disorder. On July 10, Georgia’s Public Broadcaster followed up with a similar topic, which at least included the civil society organizations’ claims to the false data. According to these media outlets, the reports were based on lists published by a political group of the European Parliament.
As the Myth Detector clarified, the grant amounts mentioned in Imedi’s segment referred not to the actual funding received by the named NGOs and media organizations, but rather to the total budgets of the projects or to the overall funding allocated across all participating countries. For example, “Imedi” claimed that the Human Rights Center was receiving €750,000 from the European Union. In reality, the project ”STRENGTHENING MONITORING AND ADVOCACY CAPACITIES FOR RIGHTS IN GEORGIA” was implemented by four organizations – the Hertie School, the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, the Georgian Democratic Initiative, and the Human Rights Center. Among them, the Human Rights Center received €64,125 over the course of two years to implement one component of the project. It is important to note that this project aimed not at “encouraging disorder” but at strengthening civil society organizations and raising public awareness about human rights. The drastic discrepancy between the actual and the fabricated figures can only be explained by propaganda motives and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
The lists published by the right-wing political group in the European Parliament also include another project by the Human Rights Center titled ”QUALITY MEDIA AND CONSCIOUS MEDIA CONSUMPTION FOR RESILIENT SOCIETY - CONMECO” The aim of this project is to promote media freedom, improve media literacy, and strengthen societal resilience against disinformation. During this project for over two years, the Human Rights Center received a total of €123,183, while the figure listed next to the organization’s name on the referenced website is €798,006.00.
The lists concerning civil society funding were published on a website reportedly created at the initiative of the chairman of “Fidesz” Hungary’s right-wing Christian-Democratic party and a member of the “Patriots for Europe” group, formed a year ago in the European Parliament. The fact that Georgian media outlets prepared reports based on statements from a Hungarian MEP is no coincidence. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ruling “Fidesz” party pursue policies that openly contradict the European Union’s democratic standards, aiming to systematically restrict civil society, academic space, and media freedom. Due to these practices, the European Union has imposed multiple sanctions on Orbán’s government. Moreover, Orbán is frequently viewed as promoting Russian interests within the EU. Against this backdrop, it is particularly alarming to see Georgian media outlets supporting 'Georgian Dream' disseminating disinformation invented by Hungarian politicians.
The goal of “Georgian Dream” and its propaganda media is clear: to spread disinformation about civil society organizations, to erode public trust for them, and to discredit their work. If that were not the case, they would uphold basic ethical and professional standards, which demand the dissemination of verified information. This is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a systemic campaign aimed at dismantling civil society. The “Georgian Dream” government is carrying out a coordinated and deliberate disinformation strategy against civil society organizations, while simultaneously seeking to deepen anti-Western and anti-democratic sentiments in the public. This strategy causes significant harm to human rights protection, media freedom, and the democratic development of the country.
The Human Rights Center remains committed to building an open, free, and democratic Georgia and calls on both local and international partners to stand in defense of these values.
The Human Rights Center calls on “Georgian Dream” and its supporting propagandist media to stop the disinformation campaigns targeting civil society organizations and human rights defenders.
On July 9, TV company “Imedi” aired its news program (which was later blocked on social media for spreading false information) and published an article on its website claiming that civil society organizations are being funded by foreign entities with large sums to encourage disorder. On July 10, Georgia’s Public Broadcaster followed up with a similar topic, which at least included the civil society organizations’ claims to the false data. According to these media outlets, the reports were based on lists published by a political group of the European Parliament.
As the Myth Detector clarified, the grant amounts mentioned in Imedi’s segment referred not to the actual funding received by the named NGOs and media organizations, but rather to the total budgets of the projects or to the overall funding allocated across all participating countries. For example, “Imedi” claimed that the Human Rights Center was receiving €750,000 from the European Union. In reality, the project ”STRENGTHENING MONITORING AND ADVOCACY CAPACITIES FOR RIGHTS IN GEORGIA” was implemented by four organizations – the Hertie School, the Netherlands Helsinki Committee, the Georgian Democratic Initiative, and the Human Rights Center. Among them, the Human Rights Center received €64,125 over the course of two years to implement one component of the project. It is important to note that this project aimed not at “encouraging disorder” but at strengthening civil society organizations and raising public awareness about human rights. The drastic discrepancy between the actual and the fabricated figures can only be explained by propaganda motives and a deliberate attempt to mislead the public.
The lists published by the right-wing political group in the European Parliament also include another project by the Human Rights Center titled ”QUALITY MEDIA AND CONSCIOUS MEDIA CONSUMPTION FOR RESILIENT SOCIETY - CONMECO” The aim of this project is to promote media freedom, improve media literacy, and strengthen societal resilience against disinformation. During this project for over two years, the Human Rights Center received a total of €123,183, while the figure listed next to the organization’s name on the referenced website is €798,006.00.
The lists concerning civil society funding were published on a website reportedly created at the initiative of the chairman of “Fidesz” Hungary’s right-wing Christian-Democratic party and a member of the “Patriots for Europe” group, formed a year ago in the European Parliament. The fact that Georgian media outlets prepared reports based on statements from a Hungarian MEP is no coincidence. Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orbán and his ruling “Fidesz” party pursue policies that openly contradict the European Union’s democratic standards, aiming to systematically restrict civil society, academic space, and media freedom. Due to these practices, the European Union has imposed multiple sanctions on Orbán’s government. Moreover, Orbán is frequently viewed as promoting Russian interests within the EU. Against this backdrop, it is particularly alarming to see Georgian media outlets supporting 'Georgian Dream' disseminating disinformation invented by Hungarian politicians.
The goal of “Georgian Dream” and its propaganda media is clear: to spread disinformation about civil society organizations, to erode public trust for them, and to discredit their work. If that were not the case, they would uphold basic ethical and professional standards, which demand the dissemination of verified information. This is not an isolated incident, but rather part of a systemic campaign aimed at dismantling civil society. The “Georgian Dream” government is carrying out a coordinated and deliberate disinformation strategy against civil society organizations, while simultaneously seeking to deepen anti-Western and anti-democratic sentiments in the public. This strategy causes significant harm to human rights protection, media freedom, and the democratic development of the country.
The Human Rights Center remains committed to building an open, free, and democratic Georgia and calls on both local and international partners to stand in defense of these values.
The Human Rights Center calls on “Georgian Dream” and its supporting propagandist media to stop the disinformation campaigns targeting civil society organizations and human rights defenders.
News
20.03.2026
Georgia: Authorities must repeal new amendments on the Law “On Grants” and other repressive legislation criminalising human rights work
