Georgia is among the countries that employ transnational repression tactics, according to a report by Freedom House. However, while the international human rights organization provided examples for other countries, it did not cite specific facts or cases regarding Georgia in this instance—reporting only the fact of its inclusion on the list.
The document notes that six new states—Afghanistan, Benin, Georgia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe—have been added to the list of countries identified as practicing transnational repression.
“In the past year, governments around the world killed, attacked, kidnapped, threatened, and harassed critics beyond their borders. Freedom House recorded 126 new cases of physical, direct cross-border persecution during the year, bringing the total number of cases in our database, which covers the period from 2014 to 2025, to 1,375.
The number of governments resorting to such methods has increased. It was established that six new states—Afghanistan, Benin, Georgia, Kenya, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe—use transnational repression tactics. As of 2025, at least 54 governments, or more than a quarter of all countries in the world, have attempted to silence dissidents abroad,” the international human rights organization’s report states.
What exactly typically leads to such an assessment in studies like those by Freedom House?
According to open sources, this refers to cases where a state:
- assists other countries in persecuting individuals on its territory or through its structures;
- participates in the detention, extradition, or transfer of individuals who are subsequently persecuted for political reasons;
- coordinates actions with other states against activists or opposition figures abroad;
- uses law enforcement mechanisms (e.g., search warrants or notices) for political purposes.
Sometimes, a country’s inclusion in such lists is based on:
- individual documented episodes;
- data from human rights defenders and investigative journalism;
- analysis of intelligence cooperation and extradition practices.
However, in the case of Georgia, the NGO does not provide a description of a specific case involving the country.
The Azerbaijani side proposed to “leave without consideration” the request for Sadigov’s extradition
As a reminder, transnational repression occurs when a state persecutes its citizens or critics even when they are abroad.
This involves actions such as intimidation, threats, kidnappings, or even assassinations. Dissidents, journalists, activists, and members of the diaspora can be targeted.
The main difference from internal repression is that it takes place on the territory of other countries. In doing so, the state violates not only human rights but also the laws of the countries where these individuals are located.