The Public Defender’s annual report highlights continued impunity for law enforcement officers and the mistreatment of protesters in Georgia.
At the end of 2024, the Ombudsman gained exceptional access to an ongoing criminal case at the Special Investigation Service, examining possible abuse of authority by Ministry of Internal Affairs employees during the April–May protests. The report urged the Prosecutor General and the Special Investigation Service to investigate acts of torture, degrading treatment, unlawful detention, and possible evidence falsification.
Despite nearly two years of investigation, the cases have not been reclassified, no individuals have been held accountable, and criminal liability has not been established.
From March 2025 to February 2026, Public Defender representatives monitored 131 detained protesters, with 35 reporting mistreatment and 17 sustaining injuries. Detainees cited physical violence, verbal abuse, excessive handcuffing, and degrading practices such as forced undressing. Female detainees face particular hardships, including showering only once every three days.
The 428-page report also covers a wide range of issues, including poverty, femicide, education problems, and other human rights concerns.
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