The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (Gyla) has announced a temporary suspension of its long-standing free legal aid program, citing restrictive legislation passed by the ruling Georgian Dream party. The decision, made on March 14th, impacts a program that has provided support to over 1.3 million individuals across 31 years. Gyla stated that this initiative had enabled countless citizens to safeguard their rights, both domestically and within international legal forums.
Recognizing the challenging circumstances faced by civil society organizations in independent Georgia, the Gyla highlighted “unconstitutional legislative amendments” introduced since 2024. These changes have substantially limited the scope for human rights activities. Furthermore, the organization noted a repressive environment has compelled many civil society groups to halt or severely curtail their operations, alongside a heightened risk of criminal prosecution.
The Gyla explained that they are “temporarily switching to crisis mode,” focusing solely on strategic litigation. This action will affect thousands of citizens who previously relied on the Gyla’s support. The Gyla has previously represented individuals detained during protests against Georgian Dream’s policies.
An OSCE report, produced under the Moscow Mechanism, has raised concerns about democratic backsliding in Georgia. This situation underscores the difficulties faced by organizations like the Gyla in providing essential legal assistance within the Georgian context.
Topics: #gyla #georgian #free
The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has temporarily halted its free legal assistance initiative, due to new laws enacted by the Georgian Dream government. This action, taken on March 14th,
GYLA has temporarily halted its free legal assistance, attributing the move to new laws enacted by the Georgian Dream government. On March 14th, the Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) made thi