Democracy Defenders

What Democracy Defenders does

Democracy Defenders (დემოკრატიის მცველები) is a Georgian non-governmental organization headquartered in Tbilisi that safeguards civil liberties, promotes democratic principles, and advances Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration. The organization operates through four core programs: the "My Vote" election observation coalition (uniting 30+ NGOs and continuously monitoring 1,131 polling precincts), the "Therefore European" monthly publication on EU integration, the "School of Activism" civic education curriculum for young people, and the "Ilia Chavchavadze" project translating Georgian historical journalism into English, German, and French for European audiences. It serves Georgian citizens, diaspora voters, ethnic and religious minorities, and a coalition of partner NGOs, with documented operational reach including 158 trained observers deployed across 48 international polling stations.

The organization is community-led, with a small staff of approximately 10 people plus a five-member board chaired by Giorgi Mshvenieradze, led by Director Rapiel Kakabadze. Its work spans election monitoring and evidence-based reporting (photo/video documentation of violations at 196 precincts, with 17% showing systemic violations), legal advocacy (filing 246 precinct complaints covering 417,305 voters), counter-disinformation campaigns, judicial reform advocacy (the "12 steps to a fair trial" project), and civic education. Democracy Defenders does not sell products or services; its entire revenue model is grant-funded by international institutional donors including EWMI, Open Society Foundation–Georgia, Civil Society Institute, United Nations Association of Georgia, and Zinc Network, with individual project budgets ranging from roughly $3,000 to $129,987 GEL.

The geographic footprint is concentrated in Georgia, with selective international activity limited to diaspora election observation at polling stations abroad. Recent strategic activity indicates deliberate expansion: a counter-disinformation intervention project with Zinc Network (May–December 2024), a minority-focused inclusivity project with UNAG ($67,088, 2024), and coordination with coalitions of over 120 NGOs opposing legislation termed the "Russian Law." The organization operates against a backdrop of intensifying legal and regulatory pressure from Georgian state institutions, including Prosecutor's Office witness summonses of coalition members and Constitutional Court refusal to suspend the contested law, conditions that materially affect both operating risk and donor sentiment.

Name

Democracy Defenders

Legal name

Democracy Defenders (დემოკრატიის მცველები)

Website

https://en.demdef.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Democracy Defenders is a Georgian civil society organization in Tbilisi that conducts election monitoring, civic education, counter-disinformation campaigns, and Euro-Atlantic integration advocacy, serving Georgian citizens, diaspora voters, and partner NGOs via grant-funded programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Civic Advocacy and Election Monitoring

NAICS

Social Advocacy Organizations (8133), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

akta.pro primary industry

Democracy, Voting Rights & Civic Participation Advocacy (BPAGAFAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Electoral Support & Election Observation (BPADAGAA), Civil Society Strengthening & Civic Space (BPADAGAD), Civic Participation & Leadership Development (Voting, Advocacy, Community Leadership) (EDAAADAL)

Keywords

• Election observation
• Civic education
• Democracy advocacy
• Civil society
• Voter rights

Headquarters

HQ city

Tbilisi

HQ country

Georgia

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. International Donor Funding: The organization operates primarily through grants and funding from international donor organizations including EWMI (East-west Management Institute), OSGF (Open Society Foundation - Georgia), Civil Society Institute, UNAG (United Nations Association of Georgia), and Zinc Network. These funds support specific projects in democracy promotion, civic activism, and European integration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Democracy Defenders is a Georgian non-governmental organization that conducts nonpartisan election observation, civic education, and counter-disinformation programming to safeguard democratic principles and civil liberties. The organization fields observer missions during elections, runs an activist training program, publishes analytical content, and engages in public advocacy on Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration and rule-of-law issues.

Product overview

Democracy Defenders is a civil society organization that operates as a single, unified offering rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture. Its core products and programs include the 'My Vote' election observation mission, the 'Therefore European' monthly publication, the 'School of Activism' civic education program, and the 'Ilia Chavchavadze Translation Project'. These programs work together to advance the organization's mission of safeguarding civil liberties, promoting democratic principles, and supporting Georgia's Euro-Atlantic integration.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• My Vote: Election observation mission coalition that monitors electoral processes in Georgia.
• School of Activism
• Therefore European

Products and services

• My Vote Election Observation Mission

Quantifiable outcome

• Observed 1131 polling precincts continuously on election day; documented violations at 196 precincts (17%) with systemic violations
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered minor and flagship.

• Therefore EuropeanminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMonthly publication partnership bringing real news about the European Union and Georgia's path toward European integration. Democracy Defenders promotes this initiative on their platform.
• Ilia Chavchavadze ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration to translate Ilia Chavchavadze's journalism into English, German, and French to promote Georgian cultural heritage to European audiences.
• My Vote Observation CoalitionflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerDemocracy Defenders is a member of the 'My Vote' election observation coalition uniting over 30 Georgian NGOs for comprehensive monitoring of elections. The coalition conducted observation of October 26 parliamentary elections covering 1131 polling precincts.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Transparency International Georgia: Major Georgian civil society organization focused on anti-corruption and democratic accountability, frequently named alongside Democracy Defenders in NGO coalitions (e.g., 120+ NGOs against Russian Law). Directly comparable mission and donor base.
• Georgian Young Lawyers' Association (GYLA): Long-standing Georgian legal advocacy NGO that litigates electoral and civil liberties cases, including the Constitutional Court appeals rejected in 2024. Directly comparable legal-strategic advocacy work.
• Georgian Democracy Initiative (GDI): Coalition-style Georgian NGO focused on democratic governance, civic activism, and human rights. Overlapping donor set and participation in cross-coalition campaigns (e.g., 120+ NGOs against Russian Law).
• Civil Georgia: Independent Georgian civic media and analysis platform covering democratic governance, elections, and EU integration. Comparable mission in informing citizens and producing analysis parallel to Democracy Defenders' 'Therefore European' publication.
• International Society for Fair Elections and Democracy (ISFED): Georgia's longest-running domestic election observation coalition, routinely deploying thousands of observers across precincts. Closest direct peer because of overlapping role in monitoring the same elections and shared methodology with My Vote.

Broad incumbents

• OSCE/ODIHR Election Observation Mission: International election observation body that deploys missions to Georgia's elections. Directly comparable activity in observing the same electoral process, but as a much larger international institution.
• National Democratic Institute (NDI) Georgia: U.S.-headquartered democracy support organization with an active Georgia office funding political party development, polling, and civic engagement. Comparable as a major donor and programmatic partner in the same democracy-support ecosystem.
• International Republican Institute (IRI): U.S. democracy support organization with longstanding Georgia programs on political processes and civil society. Comparable donor/counterpart with broader geographic remit.
• Freedom House Georgia: Global democracy and human rights organization with annual Freedom in the World reporting on Georgia. Comparable reputational player in the international democracy-support ecosystem that Democracy Defenders participates in.

Emerging players

• Open Society Foundation - Georgia (OSGF): Major Georgian civil society funder and program operator run by the Open Society network. Comparable as a participant in the same democracy-support coalition space, with a broader grantmaking role rather than direct field observation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/DemDefGeo
• Facebookfacebook.com/DemocracyDefendersGeorgia
• Instagraminstagram.com/democracy.defenders
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/democracy-defenders

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Democracy Defenders