Georgia's Ruling Party Plans Opposition Ban After October Local Elections, Approves Controversial Law on Foreign Grants on April 16

On April 15, the ruling party in Georgia, Georgian Dream, announced plans to file a constitutional lawsuit aimed at banning opposition political parties, with the action scheduled to take place after local elections in October. The party's secretary indicated that this delay is intended to allow for further investigation into the previous government's activities. In a related development, Georgian Dream's parliament approved a controversial law that prohibits foreign organizations from providing grants without prior government approval. This law, which passed on April 16, is seen as a means to tighten state control over foreign funding and has raised concerns about its implications for civil society. The opposition has criticized the law as part of a broader crackdown on dissent against the pro-Western factions within the government.