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DRC: Police forces have been confronting peaceful demonstrators with organized crime for months on the instructions of Georgian Dream
02.02.2025

On February 2, at a protest rally held in the vicinity of Tbilisi Mall, Georgian Dream again restricted the right to assembly and expression illegally, while completely ignoring the norms of the Constitution and responding to the peaceful rally with a repressive policy. Even though the rally had not become violent at any stage, several demonstrators were illegally detained and verbally and physically abused, including women and minors.

According to current data, 23 participants in the rally have been detained, including politicians, civil activists and one minor. All the footage released show that in none of the cases was there a legal ground for the arrest. In addition, the police forces were kicking the peaceful protesters in the head. The footage shows the Head of the Riot Police, Zviad Kharazishvili, physically abusing the already detained citizens before putting them in a car.

Peaceful protesters, gathered at the entrance to Tbilisi, wanted to block the road (which was quite possible given their number). However, the law enforcement officers, who were mobilized in particularly large numbers (and were deployed on both sides of the road, dividing the protesters into two parts), did not allow the demonstrators to do so. Moreover, the protesters intended to march to the Tbilisi City Court, but the police forces unlawfully restricted their right to move.

According to the European Court of Human Rights, the protest, given its form and the number of demonstrators, may cause a breach of public order, including disruption of traffic. Even in such a situation, the right to assembly and expression can be restricted only if it takes a violent form, and the restrictions must be legitimate, necessary and proportionate.

After the announcement of the rally, on January 31, with the amendments made by Georgian Dream to Decree No. 361 of the Government of Georgia of October 23, 2024, international roads were included in the list of objects of strategic and/or special importance. The Ministry of Internal Affairs warned the participants in the rally about the possible criminal liability that could follow the blocking of the Tbilisi exit.

Blocking the road can be a logical continuation of the rally and demonstration, and according to the practice of the European Court, it is not considered a criminal act. Such a warning statement by the Ministry of Internal Affairs aims to instill fear in society (especially in the context of a biased court) and may have a chilling effect on the realization of the constitutional right to assembly and expression.

The February 2 rally was also preceded by searches and seizures of objects from the homes of activists - Ilo Glonti, Nancy Woland and Isako Devidze - without legal grounds and in gross violation of a number of legal norms. In parallel with the investigative actions, law enforcement officers verbally, physically and psychologically abused the activists.

The brutal methods used by the police forces in recent days are a continuation of the organized crime that has been ongoing against dissent for the past several months. Despite numerous pieces of evidence, no law enforcement officer has been held accountable to date, which serves as an additional inciting factor.

The Democracy Research Center calls on:

The Special Investigation Service:

  • to investigate the cases that have occurred over the past few months objectively and in accordance with law, and to respond accordingly.
  • to immediately provide information to the public regarding the progress of the investigation, given the high public interest.

The judiciary:

  • to act in accordance with law and immediately release illegally detained political prisoners.
DRC: Georgian Dream is trying to legalize its repressive policy

On February 3, after the party session, the leader of the Georgian Dream, Mamuka Mdinaradze, announced the tightening of the repressive policy by introducing amendments to legislation.

03.02.2025
არასამთავრობო ორგანიზაციების ქსელის შეფასება 2 თებერვალს განვითარებულ მოვლენებთან დაკავშირებით

არასამთავრობო ორგანიზაციების სამართლებრივი დახმარების ქსელის იურისტები განაგრძობენ მშვიდობიანი დემონსტრანტების უფლებების დაცვას.

03.02.2025