In November 2024, representatives from around 20 state and public institutions formed an initiative group aimed at establishing a professional union for public servants. Among the members were employees from the Administration of the President of Georgia, the Parliament, the Constitutional Court, the National Bank, the Ministries of Economy and Justice (including various LEPLs under their jurisdiction), the Revenue Service of the Ministry of Finance, multiple LEPLs under the Ministry of Education and Science, the Tbilisi City Hall and City Council, various municipalities, the Civil Service Bureau, the Legal Aid Service, and other public institutions.

The Establishment of the Union and the Public Registry’s Decision

In December 2024, the "Independent Professional Union of Public Servants – Article 78 of the Constitution" was officially established. One of the primary reasons behind its formation was the Georgian Dream government’s de facto decision to suspend EU accession negotiations in violation of Article 78 of the Constitution and the subsequent large-scale repressions against public officials who openly protested against this decision.

On December 25, 2024, 36 founding members of the union submitted an application to the Public Registry Agency for registration. All necessary documents, including the founding agreement and charter, were provided. Notably, several of the founding members were current and former employees of the Public Registry, with extensive experience in the field and a clear understanding of the documentation required for registration.

Despite the fact that identical documentation had been sufficient for the registration of other professional unions—such as the "Independent Professional Union of Managers, Professional Accountants, and Auditors of Georgia" and the "Professional Union of Tower Crane Operators"—on December 26, 2024, the Public Registry suspended the registration process under the pretext of requiring additional documents. Eventually, on January 28, 2025, the agency decided to terminate the registration process altogether.

A Second Attempt and Another Rejection

To confirm the biased, discriminatory, and dishonest approach of the Public Registry, the union resubmitted an application for registration on February 18, 2025. However, this time, the Public Registry objected to the union's name and again suspended the registration process.

It is becoming increasingly clear that the ruling Georgian Dream party fears the establishment of an independent professional union for public servants, as such an organization contradicts their goal of transforming Georgia’s public service into a politically submissive institution that blindly follows unlawful government orders.

International Mechanisms 

The Public Registry's actions not only violate the Georgian Constitution and national laws but also breach the country’s international obligations, including three core International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions (N87, N98, and N151), which guarantee freedom of association for trade unions.

As a result, on February 26, the "Independent Professional Union of Public Servants – Article 78 of the Constitution" officially filed a complaint with the International Labour Organization (ILO). The complaint was drafted in collaboration with Transparency International Georgia, further emphasizing the severity of the issue.

Mass Dismissals of Public Servants and Institutional Reorganization

As of today, unofficial data indicates that around 400 individuals have already been dismissed from public service.

The institutions leading these dismissals include:

• LEPLs under the Ministry of Justice (such as the Public Registry Agency, the Probation Agency, and the House of Justice);
• The Ministry of Defense and the Tbilisi City Hall, where ongoing reorganization processes have already resulted in employees receiving termination notices.
• The Parliamentary Research Center (LEPL), which is currently undergoing liquidation and is set to be abolished by March 10, 2025.
• The Civil Service Bureau (LEPL), which will be completely dissolved by April 1, 2025.

The Legal Battle Continues

Transparency International Georgia is actively assisting former public servants by providing legal aid:

• Lawsuits have already been filed on behalf of 11 dismissed public servants in court;
• 8 more lawsuits are currently being prepared;
• Legal consultations have been provided to more than 70 dismissed public servants.

These developments make it clear that the fight for public servants’ rights is far from over, and the union continues to engage both international and local institutions in the struggle.