The Democracy Research Center echoes the events developed on Rustaveli Avenue on December 6-7 and calls on the Special Investigation Service to immediately investigate the crimes committed by law enforcement officers and to act in accordance with law; given the high public interest, to provide the public with timely information about the progress of the investigation.

Law enforcement officers again confronted tens of thousands of peaceful citizens gathered on Rustaveli Avenue with disproportionate force and without any legal grounds, using special equipment - gas capsules, water cannons and pepper spray. Periodically, without any basis, a group of several law enforcement officers used force to arrest peaceful demonstrators and physically assaulted them. In addition, there were constant incidents of police officers obstructing journalistic activities.

At approximately 00:34, without any warning, a part of the riot police started to move from Freedom Square. At the same time, several peaceful citizens were arrested on Chichinadze Street. At 01:50, law enforcement officers began a large-scale crackdown on the peaceful demonstration without any legal grounds. The use of disproportionate force was preceded by a formal statement from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, saying that numerous violations of the law were observed by the participants in the demonstration, which is not true.

The tactics used by the police to crack down on the demonstration are particularly alarming - peaceful demonstrators were besieged and a large number of gas capsules containing an unknown chemical substance were used, in gross violation of international standards and the rules established by the operational instructions of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The only free space from which the protesters could leave the area was the extension of Rustaveli Avenue. A part of the riot police, along with special equipment (including a water cannon), was deployed in the Republic Square as well, where they periodically, with the use of force, arrested peaceful demonstrators on their way home. According to the demonstrators, the police forces were also deployed in the underground exits, which made it extremely difficult for them to safely leave the area. In addition, a large part of the police forces followed the demonstrators for a considerable distance, verbally abusing, arresting and physically abusing them.

The use of a large number of gas capsules of an unknown chemical substance by the police forces was alarming for another reason as well. In particular, as in previous days, law enforcement officers illegally searched protesters and seized their masks, gas masks and other protective equipment, which did not pose a threat to their or others’ lives and health.

For the 9th day, Georgian Dream has continued its repressive policy against peaceful demonstrators - illegal arrests, disproportionate and unjustified crackdown on peaceful demonstrations, inhuman treatment (torture) of demonstrators, illegal searches and groundless seizure of citizens’ belongings.

•  As of December 6, about 400 peaceful demonstrators have been arrested, and more than 300 people have become victims of inhuman treatment. According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 48 ​​people were arrested under administrative rules and 2 under criminal rules on December 6-7.
• As far as we are informed, not a single law enforcement officer has been identified and punished so far. The inaction of relevant agencies incites the use of cruel methods of retaliation against peaceful demonstrators.