The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) has issued a statement condemning the September 8 violence on Melikishvili Avenue in Tbilisi, describing it as the “deliberate use of criminal methods and physical violence” against peaceful demonstrators and journalists.
GYLA claims that supporters of the ruling Georgian Dream party arrived near Hotel Georgia in several vehicles, armed with iron rods, and launched a coordinated attack on protesters. Video footage shows assailants approaching from both the party’s election headquarters and the street side, targeting demonstrators and media representatives. Journalists were assaulted, equipment was seized or damaged, and several reporters — including Laszlo Mese of Publika — required medical attention.
GYLA stressed that the violence was not mutual but a one-sided, organized assault. Despite the attackers being easily identifiable, police failed to intervene or detain perpetrators. In some cases, officers were even seen removing weapons from assailants without making arrests, while obstructing journalists instead of protecting them.
The Ministry of Internal Affairs later described the incident as a “confrontation between citizens,” only announcing at 22:15 that an investigation had been launched for “group violence.” High-ranking Georgian Dream officials, including Dimitri Samkharadze and Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze, appeared to justify or even endorse the violence, with Kaladze also making sexist remarks about female protesters.
GYLA recalled that similar failures by law enforcement occurred after the 2024 parliamentary elections and the July 5–6, 2021 attacks. The organization emphasized that the state has a positive obligation to safeguard peaceful assembly and protect citizens from violence.
“The September 8 events once again confirm that Georgian Dream continues to grossly violate human rights against peaceful protest,” GYLA concluded, stressing that the attack was not an isolated clash but a deliberate attempt to suppress dissent through intimidation and violence.
