The Open Government Partnership has permanently suspended Georgia from the international transparency initiative following a review that found the government had failed to address concerns about civic space, freedom of expression and freedom of assembly, the organisation announced on April 22.

The suspension adds to a growing list of international actions against Georgia over democratic backsliding, including Freedom House downgrading the country's score, the EU suspending accession talks, an OSCE Moscow Mechanism report documenting systematic human rights violations, and Amnesty International documenting torture and arbitrary detention of protesters.

The OGP Steering Committee first temporarily suspended Georgia in October 2024 and called on the government to take corrective measures. As of March 2026, no plan or formal communication outlining steps toward addressing those concerns had been received. The Steering Committee relied on independent third-party evaluations documenting continued legislative and institutional restrictions on civil society and media alongside ongoing threats to fundamental freedoms.

"The Open Government Partnership is rooted in the principle that governments and civil society must be able to work together in an environment that protects fundamental freedoms. After a comprehensive and fair review process, the conclusion was that these conditions are not currently met in Georgia," said OGP chief executive Aidan Eyakuze.

Georgia may seek to rejoin the partnership in future if it meets OGP eligibility criteria, including demonstrating adherence to the Open Government Declaration and passing a required values check. "We are hopeful that Georgia will rejoin the Open Government Partnership at the right moment, when conditions improve," Eyakuze added.