Amnesty International on Tuesday criticized the decision of Georgian authorities to summon human rights activist Ucha Nanuashvili for questioning, following his contribution to a report by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

In a press release, the rights group described the summoning as “a witch-hunt” designed to deter and suppress those who report human rights violations in Georgia. Denis Krivosheev, Amnesty International’s Eastern Europe and Central Asia Deputy Director, stated that authorities’ failure to address concerns raised over human rights abuses confirmed the criticisms outlined in the OSCE report. He called for authorities to “end the intimidation” of human rights defenders and allow them “to engage freely with international human rights mechanisms without fear of reprisals.”

Nanuashvili was summoned for questioning by Georgia’s State Security Service on March 17 over his communications with an expert from the OSCE. The summons followed the publication on 12 March of a report by the OSCE rapporteur, which highlighted “marked democratic backsliding” in Georgia since spring 2024. The report raised concerns about restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly, alleged ill-treatment of protesters, and the unlawful detention of individuals on the basis of their political grounds.

Amnesty International noted that the summoning of Nanuashvili fits into a broader pattern. In recent months, numerous researchers and human rights defenders providing information about the state of human rights in the country have faced interrogation in criminal proceedings. There is also a trend of intensified pressure on civil society actors and organizations, with the Georgian Young Lawyers Association’s announcing a temporary end to its legal aid program on March 14. The state has further passed laws restricting foreign funding for civil activity, prompting widespread criticism from rights groups and the UN.