"I deplore the decision of the Georgian authorities to freeze the accounts of several leading non-governmental organisations in Georgia, accusing them of "sabotage" and aiding hostile foreign activity," stressed Stewart Dickson, Chair of the Council for Democratic Elections and member of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe.
"The Congress has been working closely in particular with the International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED), to make sure that local and regional elections in Georgia meet European democratic standards set by the Council of Europe, of which Georgia is a member state since 1999. Accusing NGOs of aiding foreign activities which are for the benefit of Georgia is absurd. I urge the Georgian authorities to rescind this decision," stated Stewart Dickson.
