Russia’s Prosecutor General’s Office has declared the Georgian opposition party Droa an ‘undesirable organisation’ in Russia, accusing its members of holding ‘Russophobic positions’ and seeking to discredit Russia’s actions in Georgia. This is the first time Russia has designated a Georgian political party as ‘undesirable’, and seems to be the second time a foreign party participating in elections has been. Droa is an opposition, pro-European political party founded in 2021 by Elene Khoshtaria, who remains its leader and is currently imprisoned. The party supports Georgia’s European and Euro-Atlantic integration, democratic governance, and efforts to counter Russian influence. The decision follows previous cases in which Russia has used its legislation to restrict the activities of organisations operating in Georgia, as well as to target Russian citizens living in the country. Russia orders arrest of Georgia-based blogger Nikolai Levshitz Russian authorities accuse the Georgia-based blogger of spreading ‘fake news’ about the Russian army. OC Media Lana Kokaia In March 2025, Moscow designated the Belgium-based Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) and its youth wing, European Liberal Youth (LYMEC), as undesirable organisations. Droa has been part of ALDE since 2024. In a statement published on Thursday the Prosecutor General’s Office justified its decision, claiming that Droa was focused on ‘exposing the ties of the local ruling elite with Russia’, dismantling Georgia’s ‘one-party system’, and promoting the idea of the country’s accelerated integration into the EU. ‘The organisation’s members hold strongly Russophobic positions and seek to discredit our country’s actions in the Georgian direction. They oppose the normalisation of bilateral relations with Russia in the political, economic, and cultural-humanitarian spheres, demand the reinstatement of a visa regime and the termination of direct air traffic between the two countries’, the Prosecutor General’s Office stated. It also criticised the party’s support for Ukraine and that members had made statements describing Abkhazia and South Ossetia as occupied by Russia. The ruling Georgian Dream party also maintains that Abkhazia and South Ossetia have been occupied. In a statement published following the announcement, Droa doubled down on the attributes that had led it to be labeled undesirable. ‘We are taking this opportunity to declare once again: Abkhazia and Samachablo are Georgia! Glory to the heroes!’ the party said. Droa also declared that ‘Ivanishvili’s regime is Russian’ and vowed to end its rule in Georgia. ‘Georgia will be a member of the EU and NATO!’ the statement concluded. Russian authorities also singled out Droa leader Elene Khoshtaria, highlighting that she had accused the ruling Georgian Dream party of supporting a pro-Russian course. Khoshtaria has been detained since October 2025 and is serving an 18-month sentence in the women’s prison near Rustavi. Prosecutors accuse Khoshtaria of damaging another person’s property by writing on an election poster belonging to Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze with a marker. While this is the first time Russian authorities have targeted a Georgian party, Moscow has previously targeted Russian anti-war groups operating from Georgia. In mid-August , Russia designated a Russian anti-war group based in Batumi as an ‘undesirable organisation’, a designation that can expose people involved with such organisations to criminal prosecution in Russia. In October, Tbilisi-based Frame, set up by emigree Russians, was declared a foreign agent, and subsequently shut down.