On March 28, the Georgian Dream Ministry of Internal Affairs detained 4 people on administrative charges at a protest rally held in parallel with the session of the Georgian Dream Investigative Commission. As the agency informed the media, two people were detained for disobeying the lawful order of the police officer and petty hooliganism in accordance with Articles 166 and 173 of the Administrative Offences Code of Georgia, one person was detained for disobeying the lawful order of the police officer under Article 173, and another person was detained under Articles 173 and 174 for disobeying the lawful order of the police officer and for blocking the road.

As can be seen in the footage released, the police detained protesters on 9 April Street, on the sidewalk opposite the Parliament. They were not allowed to cross the street or move to the sidewalk along the Parliament building, which is a completely unjustified restriction on freedom of assembly and expression. The first arrest took place right there, when the police detained two people. The arrests continued on Rustaveli Avenue. As it became known, two arrested people have already been released.

After some time, the police completely blocked 9 April and Chitadze streets next to the Parliament, presumably in order to allow the Georgian Dream MPs to leave the building, bypassing the protest.

People outraged by the statements made at the Georgian Dream Investigative Commission session regarding the August war continue to protest. It should be emphasized that the rally is peaceful and the people gathered should be given the full opportunity to express their protest. However, due to the harmful practice of groundless use of police force in recent months, there is a risk of arresting civilians. 

The Democracy Research Institute calls on:

• The Public Defender of Georgia - in accordance with his mandate, to speak with the detained people, to begin monitoring the ongoing protests, and to promptly inform both the Georgian and international communities of his assessment of the alleged violations of freedom of assembly and expression, and of the actions of the police.
• The international community - to focus special attention on the actions of law enforcement officers in relation to peaceful protests in Georgia and to use all the levers at their disposal to stop the repressive treatment of peaceful protesters, including sanctions mechanisms against specific responsible individuals.