Expert Witness for Georgia: Asylum & Immigration Reports

Georgia’s LGBT community faces severe societal hostility that state institutions fail to address. In particular, Pride events have been met with violent mob attacks while police provided inadequate protection. Specifically, the 2021 Tbilisi Pride violence demonstrated how organised groups operate with effective impunity. Family-based violence against LGBT individuals remains widespread, and victims who report abuse frequently encounter dismissive or hostile responses from law enforcement. Additionally, the “family values” constitutional amendment has emboldened anti-LGBT sentiment across Georgian society.

Political opposition figures in Georgia face escalating pressure through selective prosecution, surveillance, and administrative harassment. Notably, the ruling party has consolidated power through measures that weaken judicial independence and restrict civil society organisations. Consequently, opposition activists, protest organisers, and those critical of the government encounter legal proceedings that appear politically motivated. Furthermore, the foreign agents law mirrors Russian-style legislation designed to suppress dissent, creating a chilling effect on political participation and free expression throughout the country.

Hundreds of thousands of ethnic Georgians remain displaced from the Russian-occupied territories of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. Meanwhile, those living near the administrative boundary lines face arbitrary detention, “borderisation” practices, and restricted access to agricultural land. Accordingly, internally displaced persons encounter ongoing marginalisation, inadequate housing, and limited employment opportunities. The Georgian government lacks any capacity to provide protection within the occupied territories, and international monitoring organisations have restricted access to these areas.

Georgia’s judiciary has faced sustained criticism for lacking genuine independence from political influence. Specifically, the so-called “clan” of judges within the system has been identified by international observers as undermining impartial adjudication. Therefore, individuals facing politically motivated charges cannot rely on fair trial guarantees. The European Court of Human Rights has repeatedly found violations in Georgian cases, and the Venice Commission has raised concerns about judicial appointments and disciplinary procedures that compromise the separation of powers.

Despite legislative reforms, domestic violence remains pervasive in Georgia and institutional responses continue to fall short. In particular, restraining orders are inconsistently enforced, and police often treat complaints as private family matters rather than criminal offences. Shelter capacity is severely limited outside Tbilisi, leaving rural victims with few options. Additionally, societal attitudes that normalise domestic abuse create barriers to reporting. Our expert witness for Georgia documents how the gap between legal frameworks and practical enforcement leaves survivors without meaningful state protection.

While the Georgian Orthodox Church holds a privileged constitutional position, religious minorities including Jehovah’s Witnesses, Muslims, and Protestant groups face discrimination and occasional violence. Notably, the state has failed to prosecute perpetrators of religiously motivated attacks effectively. Furthermore, minority religious communities encounter obstacles in obtaining building permits for places of worship and face societal pressure in rural areas. The dominance of the Orthodox Church in public life creates an environment where non-Orthodox believers experience marginalisation in employment, education, and community participation.