The latest report by ECNL and ICNL analyses the decisions of the Georgian Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). It further unpacks their compliance with international standards relating to civil society's participation in public life, including monitoring and other ways of participating in the electoral process.
In September 2024, the ACB designated two prominent Georgian CSOs as “persons with a declared electoral goal”. This meant that these organisations were prevented from carrying out their standard election observation activities and other, electoral process-related actions.
This report provides a detailed analysis of the ACB’s actions and the broader implications for electoral integrity and the role of CSOs in Georgia. It highlights the ongoing challenges faced by civil society in ensuring free and fair elections in the country. While the Bureau later repealed its decision, the implications of such discretionary powers remain a pressing concern.
What can you find in the report?
- International standards on anti-corruption bodies and their role in election processes;
- The role of civil society in anti-corruption and election monitoring;
- Analysis of Georgian legislation on CSOs’ engagement in political activities, and the status of the Georgian ACB;
- Suggestions for future work of the ACB and watchdog organisations that monitor its work.