On May 2-5, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) held its 57th Annual Meeting in Tbilisi, Georgia under the theme “Building a Bridge to the Future.” The primary focus of the events held within the framework of the 57th Annual Meeting were the key development issues facing Asia and the Pacific, including climate change, artificial intelligence, and green globalization. The meeting brought together finance ministers, central bank governors, senior government officials, and representatives from the private sector, academia, media, and civil society from ADB’s 68 members. 

With its focus on regional development and cooperation to address the challenges in relation to the key issues discussed during the Annual Meeting, ADB collaborated with the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) in order to bring together representatives of local civil society and professional organizations, as well as experts, the academia, youth groups, and students during the meeting. Several events within the framework of the Annual Meeting were aimed specifically at civil society under its Civil Society Program, on topics ranging from just energy transition to inclusive and intersectional approach to climate action. 

It should be noted that the Annual Meeting took place while mass demonstrations were being held outside the major event venues on Rustaveli avenue. In April, the Georgian government re-introduced a Russian-style law that aims to label CSOs and the media with foreign donors as organizations implementing foreign power interests, a move that would serve to stigmatize the civil sector and limit freedoms of expression and criticism of the ruling party.

As ADB’s civil society partner in Georgia, IDFI co-hosted a networking event for civil society and youth representatives with ADB's NGO and Civil Society Center on May 2. At the event, IDFI’s Executive Director Giorgi Kldiashvili welcomed participants. In his speech, Mr. Kldiashvili stressed the importance of international cooperation and called on the representatives of international civil society and the leadership of the Asian Development Bank to stand with Georgian civil society during the difficult times facing it. “A few weeks ago, the ruling political party reintroduced the Russian-style draft law on so-called “foreign agents”, labeling CSOs and the media as implementing organizations of foreign power interests. The real purpose of the reintroduction of the draft law is to create existential threats to independent CSOs and media organizations in the country and punish them for their activities”, Mr. Kldiashvili said during his speech. 

He added: “Given these unfortunate events, it is crucial that we — the civil society — stand together. Georgian CSOs are counting on our international partners, colleagues, and friends to lend us support during such a trying time. Without the ability to implement our activities freely and without undue pressure from the government, no CSO would be able to carry out the vital work that supports the implementation of the goals we discuss during ADB’s Annual Meeting.”

The topic of the so-called “Russian law” was prominent among the civil society representatives during the Annual Meeting. On May 3, during the meeting between civil society organizations and ADB Senior Management, Mr. Kldiashvili had an opportunity to address the Bank’s senior leadership, including ADB President Masatsugu Asakawa, once again stressing the dire circumstances facing Georgian civil society and asking if ADB would stand by them during this time. Other participants of the meeting addressed the ADB leadership with similar questions, calling on them to make definitive statements against the so-called Russian law during their meetings with representatives of the Georgian government. The ADB Senior Management expressed broad support for their civil society partners, in Georgia and elsewhere, but there was no confirmation that the topic of the Russian law would be addressed directly.

The 57th Annual Meeting was a significant venue for Georgian civil society to address the challenging situation in the country among their international peers and colleagues. While the Georgian government ultimately adopted the contentious law despite wide opposition, the opportunity for IDFI’s Executive Director to raise awareness of the topic among an international audience was of vital importance.