The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association (GYLA) is demanding a halt to expulsion procedures against activist Temur Katamadze, claiming he is being targeted for his civil activism and criticism of the ruling party.
Katamadze, a Georgian resident since 2012, was denied international protection by the Tbilisi Court of Appeals on April 29. The GYLA criticized the decision as ‘unjustified,’ saying that the presiding judge had previously denied his citizenship request and rejected primary witness testimonies.
The next day, the Ministry of Internal Affairs ordered Katamadze to leave the country within ten days. “This rushed decision without a final court ruling signals targeted repression,” the GYLA stated, urging the suspension of the expulsion until the legal challenge is resolved.
Katamadze, who is also in a separate court case over citizenship, was arrested twice in January, and alleges police abuse during his detention. An investigation is ongoing.
“The government is using legal tools to silence critics,” the GYLA declared, calling the case a threat to fair trial standards and civil rights.
