GEORGIA: Freedom of religion or belief, equality and secularity – Monthly report April
Tolerance and Diversity Institute (13.05.2025) – During the reporting period, Georgian Dream continued to manipulate pseudo-religious narratives and positioned itself as the political actor defending Christianity and traditions. In this context, opponents, human rights defenders, media, and civil activists were labeled as “anti-national,” “anti-Church,” “rootless,” and “liberal fascists.”
The main topics around which Georgian Dream built its anti-Western propaganda included the commemoration of April 9, the potential threat of EU visa liberalization being revoked, and the funding of non-governmental organizations by international institutions and donors. During the same period, Georgian Dream passed unconstitutional and undemocratic amendments to Georgia’s Law on Grants under an expedited procedure. These amendments prohibited the issuance of foreign donor grants to NGOs and media outlets without the government’s approval.
The anti-Western narrative intensified further during the reporting period, suggesting that a “global ideology,” “foreign force,” “global war party,” “Deep State,” and “liberal fascism” were fighting against Georgia’s sovereignty, Orthodox Christianity, and family values. These terms referred to the European Union and Western states that criticize the Georgian Dream government for systematic and severe human rights violations.
For instance, Georgian Dream officials and its parliamentary satellites made statements claiming that “the foreign mentality, deceptively and insidiously disguised in sheep’s clothing, has today decided to change the flag of faith” and that “Georgia’s sovereignty is being attacked by the EU bureaucracy through disinformation and the abolition of traditions.”
Alongside anti-Western messaging, Georgian Dream also continued its efforts to downplay Kremlin aggression and occupation, and to rewrite history. For example, the Soviet troops responsible for the atrocities of April 9, 1989, were not mentioned in the public statements of GD senior officials, and the violent crackdown by the Soviet occupation regime on peaceful demonstrators—an event that claimed the lives of 21 people and injured hundreds—was described merely as an act committed by a “foreign power.”
A positive trend persisted during the reporting period. Some clergy of the Georgian Orthodox Church continued to openly criticize Georgian Dream’s anti-European course and propagandistic statements, including attempts to rewrite history and downplay Kremlin aggression.
Table of Content
- Georgian Dream’s Political Manipulation Through Religion and Identity
1.1. Georgian Dream’s Pseudo-Religious Narrative Around ‘Defending Christianity’
1.2. Georgian Dream’s Anti-Western Propaganda
1.2.1. April 9 – Attempt to Rewrite History: Political Manipulation and Anti-Western Rhetoric
1.2.2. EU Visa Liberalization
1.2.3. NGO Funding
- Statements by Orthodox Clergy Condemning Violence and Supporting Protesters
2.1. April 9: “One Who Refuses to Name the Enemy is Worse Than the enemy”
2.2. Response to the Attempt to Undermine the Heroism of Giorgi Antsukhelidze
- Propagandistic and Anti-Western Statements by Some Orthodox Clergy
