The Georgian Young Lawyers Association (GYLA) has filed a complaint with the European Court of Human Rights over alleged abuses during pro-European protests in November–December 2024.
The organization says it is acting on behalf of four applicants and argues that law enforcement officers systematically tortured and ill-treated demonstrators.
At a briefing on April 20, GYLA Chairwoman Tamar Oniani said the case is intended to assess not only individual incidents, but also the broader pattern of state actions.
GYLA argues that the violence against demonstrators was not the result of individual misconduct, but a coordinated administrative practice aimed at suppressing pro-European protests.
The organization says the complaint seeks to establish that the events of November–December 2024 were not a spontaneous or disproportionate response, but organized violence that contributed to a deterioration in the human rights situation after November 28.
GYLA also raises concerns over the investigation process, saying it is hindered by limited access to evidence and institutional shortcomings.
The complaint cites alleged violations of several articles of the European Convention on Human Rights, including the prohibition of torture, freedom of assembly, prohibition of discrimination, and the right to property. It also highlights Article 17, which prohibits the abuse of rights.
GYLA says the case includes four individual accounts describing severe physical violence, insults, and threats. One applicant reportedly lost consciousness after repeated beatings, while others sustained broken bones, bleeding, and psychological trauma. In one case, a detainee’s mobile phone was confiscated and not returned.
The organization says it will continue strategic litigation in Strasbourg and will regularly update the public on the progress of the case.
