South Ossetian activist Tamara Mearakishvili has been unable to obtain a new passport for over a year. She claims the lack of a document prevents her from moving freely, even within the republic, or finding employment.
Mearakishvili attributes the authorities' actions to her critical statements on social media. Due to the lack of a passport, she cannot leave the republic, travel within the region, register as a sole proprietor, or purchase a SIM card.
South Ossetian authorities previously prohibited ethnic Georgian activist Tamara Mearakishvili from holding a protest against corruption in the region. In 2022, the republic's Prosecutor General's Office announced the closure of the criminal case against Mearakishvili due to a lack of evidence of a crime. She was accused of slandering a member of the republic's ruling party, United Ossetia. The activist also faced criminal charges for illegally acquiring a South Ossetian passport, and her home was searched. According to human rights activists, she was persecuted for criticizing the authorities and exposing corruption.
