The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association summarizes one month of protests and states that since November 28, the methods used to suppress peaceful and legitimate protests have reached a new level of severity.
Head of the GYLA, Nona Qurdovanidze, claims that the state is opposing legitimate protests with torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment, along with other repressive and violent methods.
Qurdovanidze mentions that during this period, there was also the active use of special means (water cannons, tear gas, pepper spray) in ways that posed a threat to life and health.
The GYLA states that during the past month, around 500 people were illegally detained administratively, and nearly 40 people were detained under criminal law.
“The GYLA has published a report titled ‘Civil Rights in the Face of Growing Police Terror,’ which evaluates one month of terror. It has been one month since the country was swept by large-scale, daily legitimate protests. Demonstrations are taking place in Tbilisi and other cities of Georgia. The legitimate protests were triggered by the suspension of negotiations for Georgia’s EU membership by the ruling ‘Georgian Dream’ party. Moreover, these protests are a continuation of protests against elections held with substantial violations and a general worsening of democratic conditions and human rights in the country, which were held throughout 2024.
“Although the demonstrations are peaceful, the police arbitrarily and violently dispersed the protests. The state is opposing legitimate protests with torture, inhuman, and degrading treatment, along with other repressive and violent methods.
“Since April 2024, the state has consistently used police violence, intimidation, and other practices that violate both national and international human rights law. However, since November 28, 2024, the methods aimed at suppressing peaceful and legitimate protests have reached a new level of severity.
“Since November 28, 2024, the scale and organization of police violence indicate that a criminal operation against civilian engagement is underway.
“The following events occurred during this period: torture; inhuman and degrading treatment of large groups of demonstrators and media representatives; the majority of detainees were beaten.
“There were violations of the rules regarding the use of special means (water cannons, tear gas, pepper spray), not only in terms of procedure but also in ways that were hazardous to life and health.
“There were attacks on demonstrators and media representatives by informal criminal groups.
“There was targeted persecution of media representatives, which in some cases led to injuries and the necessity for hospitalization.
“There were illegal administrative detentions (around 500 people were arbitrarily detained), illegal searches of citizens in public places, and searches/seizures in homes/offices.
“Criminal law mechanisms were used against demonstrators (around 40 people were detained).
“There were threats against public officials – in addition to physical violence, the government is attempting to limit freedom of expression among public officials through direct or indirect threats of dismissal and calls for resignation.
“The government has weaponized the law against individuals with differing opinions, including changes to the following laws: the Georgian Law on Public Service; the Law on Assemblies and Manifestations; the Law on the Police; the Code of Administrative Offenses.
“The investigation into the violence during the current protests, as well as the April-May 2024 and March 2023 protests, remains ineffective,” the organization states.
