Just days before Georgia’s parliamentary elections, authorities in Tbilisi conducted raids on the homes of Eto Buziashvili and Sopo Gelava, two prominent disinformation researchers affiliated with the Atlantic Council. The pair’s residences were searched by investigators from the Ministry of Finance, who reportedly seized personal devices belonging to them and their family members. According to sources close to the researchers, both women are safe, but there are growing concerns about the security of their devices and accounts.
The timing of the raids is notable, occurring shortly after Buziashvili published an article exposing alleged Russian interference in Georgian politics and Kremlin support for the incumbent government. Local media also reported that offices of Concentrix, an outsourcing company, and homes of other Georgian citizens were searched as part of this operation. The Ministry of Finance claimed on social media that the searches were tied to investigations into “call centers” suspected of illegal activity.
The election is viewed as pivotal, potentially steering Georgia either toward stronger ties with Russia under current Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze or toward the West through opposition leadership. Recent protests and tensions have risen, with widespread condemnation of the government’s new law requiring non-governmental organizations to register as foreign agents—legislation heavily criticized by Western nations and the European Union.
Graham Brookie, Vice President of the Atlantic Council, expressed the think tank’s alarm over the raids, stating, “We are deeply concerned about this development and its impact on our staff’s work shortly before Georgian elections. [Gelava and Buziashvili] conduct independent, non-partisan research to strengthen democracy, combat foreign influence, and defend marginalized communities from online harms.”
The Embassy of Georgia in London has yet to comment on the situation. Meanwhile, the Atlantic Council is urging the Georgian authorities to clarify their actions, ensure the safety of its researchers, and return any confiscated property to allow these researchers to continue their vital work in defending democratic values in Georgia.
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