Since its establishment in 2001, the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies has been serving the national interests of Georgia. Regardless of the different political tastes of its staff and their work under different governments, the Foundation has never deviated from its main goals – to promote the democratic development of the Georgian state and its integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures.

The current situation in the country directly contradicts what our Foundation has worked towards for decades. The current political repressions, aimed at suppressing public protests against the establishment of authoritarianism and the change in the country’s foreign policy, have also affected our organization.

On December 12, 2024, unknown persons abducted Vato Bzhalava, a research fellow at our Foundation, from the area adjacent to his home. Bzhalava, like many other Georgian citizens, had recently exercised his constitutional right of peaceful assembly and protested against the country’s deviation from the path of democratic development and European integration.

Vato was not allowed to call his relatives and inform them of this fact, or to contact a lawyer, and if it were not for a random eyewitness, his relatives would never have heard about what happened. Despite the fact that they called 112 several times and reported him missing, there was no response to this fact for three hours. Only later was it revealed that Vato had been detained by the police. It is extremely disturbing that after the arrest, the police used physical violence against Vato, which is a gross violation of both Georgian and international law.

We, Vato Bzhalava’s colleagues, strongly condemn his unjust detention and inhumane treatment. We call on the Tbilisi City Court to release Vato Bzhalava and not to impose an administrative penalty on him. We also demand that the Special Investigation Service investigate the crime committed by representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Employees of the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies:

Ekaterine Metreveli

Kakha Gogolashvili

Tornike Turmanidze

Alexi Petriashvili

Rusudan Margishvili

Zura Batiashvili

Giorgi Badridze

Shota Utiashvili

Mamuka Komakhia

Nino Ramishvili

Gela Khmaladze

Medea Ivaniadze

David Batashvili

Keti Emukhvari

Elene Imnadze

Nuki Devidze

Mariam Bujiashvili

Arsen Araqelov

Tata Gelashvili

Tamar Chkhubianishvili

Nino Chaduneli

Mariam Akhalaia

Tinatin Khukhunaishvili

Ana Mikautadze

Gia Gongladze

Gela Kelikhashvili

Akaki Chkhetiani

Vano Mchedlidze

Ushangi Nodia

Artem Melik-Nubarov

Lela Batsikadze

Irakli Gegechkori

Tina Evdoshvili